THE Yorkshire Air Ambulance is buying a second new helicopter to work alongside the state-of-the-art new Airbus H145 model which will be in operation later this year.

The service announced the replacement of their oldest MD902 Explorer aircraft, G-SASH in the summer of 2015, however plans for a second Airbus H145 model to replace the other MD902 Explorer G-CEMS have been brought forward.

The announcement comes after the YAA Chairman Peter Sunderland and Vice-Chairman Bruce Burns, recently visited the Airbus factory in Munich to see first-hand the progress of their first new helicopter. It was at this visit that the purchase of a second new helicopter was negotiated.

Peter Sunderland, chairman of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: "Due to diligent cost control, budgeting and the generosity of the people of Yorkshire we have been able to bring forward these replacement plans."