Blue Light Air Assets: Future Operations

Beyond 2016, military helicopters will no longer play a role in UK search and rescue missions, leaving other public sector organisations, the private sector, or charities to fill the gap. The Department for Transport expects to award a contract for UK-wide procurement of the replacement in early 2013.

The RUSI report Blue Light Air Assets: Cost-effective Operations for the Future published in November 2011, explored how helicopters are currently used across the UK emergency services and how their operations, procurement and funding may be harmonised in future.

This conference provides an opportunity to discuss these important issues further in an open and interactive forum with key stakeholders from Government, the private sector and the current charity operators.

Sessions include:

• Beyond SAR-H: Options for the Future
• Air Assets: Considerations for Mission Requirements
• Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and Patient Care
• The Role of the Private Sector and Charities in Emergency Air Operations
• Blue Light Air Assets: A Long-term Vision for the UK

Confirmed Participants Include:

• Mark Pawsey MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Emergency Services
• Phil Storr, Head of NHS Preparedness, Department of Health
• Superintendent Richard Watson, National Police Air Service
• Adrian Bell, Chief Executive, Kent, Surrey, Sussex Air Ambulance
• Bruce Burns, Vice Chairman, Yorkshire Air Ambulance
• Nick Searle, Group Manager Operational Preparedness, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
• Dave Bull, HART Training Lead, Department of Health
• Bill Sivewright, Chief Executive Officer, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
• Garry Fraser, Acting General Manager, Scottish Ambulance Services
• Markus Planmo, Advisor Emergency Preparedness, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
• Dougie MacDonald, Deputy Chief Coastguard, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Lt Col Simon Le Clerc, Military Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, and MERT Clinical Course Director
• Graham James, Director, Aero GB
• David Frost, AirFire
• Alex Toft, Director of Operations & Clinical Services, The Air Ambulance Service

• Øyvind Juell, Manager, Air Ambulance Services of Norway