Second MD902 to assist London's Air Ambulance

London’s Air Ambulance has confirmed its purchase of a second helicopter to support its emergency medical services (EMS) work from next year.

Registered as G-LNDN, the used MD Helicopters MD 902 “is expected to be operational in early 2016”, the charity says in a 1 October statement. This will join its existing MD Helicopters Explorer, G-EHMS, which has been in use since 2000.

Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database records the newly-acquired aircraft as having been built in 2008, and originally operated by Qatar-based Gulf Helicopters. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207E engines, it has a maximum take-off weight of 2.9t (6,500lb).

The announcement comes as London’s Air Ambulance has passed the £4 million ($6 million) mark in a fundraising campaign which it hopes will ultimately secure backing worth a total of £6 million. This will cover the additional aircraft’s purchase and adaptation for the EMS role, and also fund an extension to its daylight operating hours for a five-year period, from 2016.