Following its selection as a successful applicant for Phase 3 of the Department for Transport’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Roll-out Programme (and associated funding support), the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) is embarked on its journey to implement instrument flight procedures (IFPs) at their operating base at Henstridge Aerodrome, on the Dorset/Somerset border. 

Avigation is extremely pleased to announce that it has been selected to support DSAA in delivering this key enhancement to their helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operational capability.

HEMS are the mainstay of air ambulance operations in the UK and allow specialist medical teams to be despatched rapidly to an incident, or critically ill patient, to deliver essential prehospital treatment. DSAA is a key part of the emergency services network in the South West. The DSAA helicopter is operated by Specialist Aviation Services Ltd.

At Henstridge, the DSAA helicopter operates in Class G airspace and without approach control services, 365 days a year and between the between the hours of 0700 and 0200. Recoveries to the aerodrome can only be undertaken in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). IFPs can, therefore, enhance operating capability in marginal weather conditions.

Introducing GNSS IFPs to support the DSAA operation at Henstridge will allow the operation of the DSAA helicopter (particularly its recovery) in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), offering significant safety benefits over Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight in marginal VMC conditions, in turn, delivering vital continuity of this critical care service. 

Avigation’s role in this activity will be to manage and deliver the corresponding airspace change proposal (ACP), under the UK CAA’s CAP1616 Part 1c. In progressing the ACP, Avigation is working closely with Specialist Aviation Services and Pildo Wessex (our instrument procedure design organisation partner). 

Avigation Chairman, Brent Day, said:

Avigation recognises the critical role that DSAA crews (HEMS and Critical Care Cars) undertake to deliver essential prehospital treatment in the Dorset and Somerset counties (and frequently beyond), and Avigation is extremely proud to support DSAA in implementing GNSS IFPs to support DSAA HEMS operations at Henstridge Aerodrome. 

In delivering this ACP and its associated GNSS IFPs, Avigation is looking forward to working with the DSAA, its HEMS delivery partner, Specialist Aviation Services and Pildo Wessex. Avigation brings extensive experience of the UK CAA’s airspace change process(es) and is ready to engage the application’s stakeholders and the CAA to ensure that the corresponding flight procedures can implemented as soon as practicable, thereby enhancing their DSAA HEMS operating capability at Henstridge Aerodrome.