About Our Aviation Services In March 2023, Wales Air Ambulance announced a new aviation provider, Gama Aviation, following an extensive 18-month procurement process, which included input from both aviation and medical professionals. Gama Aviation took over control of the Charity’s fleet of aircraft in December 2023. The seven-year contract, valued at £65 million, covers the operation and maintenance of a primary fleet of four Airbus H145 helicopters, operating from our current sites in Dafen, Cardiff, Caernarfon and Welshpool. It additionally includes a backup H145 helicopter to ensure service continuity during periods of maintenance for the primary fleet. The majority of the pilots and engineers who worked with Wales Air Ambulance as part of the previous contract, have also joined Gama Aviation to continue working with our lifesaving service. To coincide with the new aviation contract, the helicopters received a new livery, highlighting the new branding of the all-Wales Charity. The livery reinforce our Welsh identity, something we are immensely proud of. The pilots also received a new look, changing from navy flight suits to red, making them more identifiable at the scene of an incident. This new era of aviation for Wales Air Ambulance also saw the Charity take on the direct lease for three of the advanced H145 aircraft. Therefore, Gama Aviation will operate and maintain four aircraft, plus a backup helicopter, on behalf of the Charity but we will be the direct leaseholder for three of them. Gama Aviation employs hundreds of staff members, continually working 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure this service is delivered to the people of Wales. “Growing up in North Wales and seeing the various military aircraft flying about probably inspired me to become a pilot – well that and Top Gun of course!” Nathan Griffith (Pilot, Caernarfon) Our pilots At Wales Air Ambulance, pilots play an important part of the critical care team. After all, no pilots means no helicopter. Wales Air Ambulance currently has 22 pilots working across the Charity’s bases. They fly across the length and breadth of Wales and are on standby 24/7 365 days of the year. Our pilots come from a variety of different backgrounds - both military and civilian experience. Traditionally, only one pilot flies the helicopters from Llanelli, Welshpool and Caernarfon. Wales Air Ambulance operates a 24/7 service which consists of a multi-pilot operation made up of a Captain and Co-pilot, which operates from its Cardiff base, at Cardiff Heliport and covers all of Wales after 7pm. However, we will see a more localised overnight service for north and mid Wales in the coming years. In addition to being a qualified HEMS pilot, 24-hour operations require the use of NVG (Night Vision Goggles) and a multi pilot qualification. Pilots are subjected to hours of NVG training, currency, and annual checks to ensure they meet and maintain the required experience levels and qualifications. Our single pilot bases also fly at night, however landing at a HEMS scene is always conducted within our multi pilot role. For night landings to take place safely, pilots look for landing sites around the size of 30x60 metres. “Going to work knowing you will play a part in helping save someone’s life is a privilege no HEMS pilot takes for granted.” James Grenfell, Head of Flight Operations (Chief Pilot) What training do our pilots undertake? There is a legal minimum of experience which is set by the Civil Aviation Authority which must be obtained before any of our pilots could be considered for a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) position. Once this requirement has been achieved, additional licences, type ratings, and training must then be completed and maintained for our pilots to conduct their duties. It can take up to 10 years for a pilot to meet the experience level required to become a HEMS commander followed by continuous training and checks every six-months. Pilots are continually being trained and tested. On average a HEMS pilot in Wales will conduct around 6-12 proficiency checks each year. In addition to flying checks, pilots must also maintain currency on ground base training such as Dangerous Goods, Fire training, Safety Management, Security, Crew Resource Management as well as other commercial currency requirements Manage Cookie Preferences