1999

We began with just one aircraft, funded by the AA, flying five days a week from our base at Blackpool Airport. Three years later we moved to flying seven days a week.

2005 to 2006

Our fundraising expanded. We opened our first retail store in Southport and launched our Lift Off Lotto, which funds around 50% of all our missions.

2009

Our second helicopter was brought online, flying from Barton. Now operating out of two points in the region, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, we were able to save more lives.

2013

A third helicopter joined the fleet, also based in Barton, providing even more coverage across the North West for patients.

2016

The charity had a rebrand and our three helicopters became yellow and blue. In this year we also reset our vision and purpose and began providing enhanced pre-hospital care.

2017

We introduced consultant-level doctors to the crew meaning we were able to deliver care previously only available in a hospital. As well as the doctors we introduced new kit to help deliver this care.

2018

The first critical care vehicle was launched which operated during daylight hours. This enabled our crews to attend incidents when the helicopter was offline due to weather or in built-up areas where it was difficult to land, such as City Centres.

2019

We launched Blood on Board, providing blood transfusions to patients at scene. We introduced a HEMS paramedic into the dispatch centre for 999 calls. They would monitor the calls to effectively dispatch the crew to the most critically ill and injured.

2021

We began to introduce Patient Aftercare Coordinators in all the Major Trauma Centres in the region. We performed our 100th blood transfusion and upskilled our paramedics to become Critical Care Paramedics, the first of their kind in the North West.

2022

After a 6-month trial we launched our Night Car. Carrying the same kit as the helicopter, it’s manned by a critical care paramedic and doctor and is available on a Friday and Saturday 6pm – 2am.

2023

We registered over 500 volunteers, and we were awarded the prestigious Investors in Volunteers Accreditation, which shows we value and appreciate our volunteer community without whom we simply could not operate.

Last year we also delivered our 300th blood transfusion and responded to over 3,100 calls, the most we’ve ever responded to.

2024