The new helicopter will now join the charity’s existing aircraft, “Pegasus” (fondly known as “Peggy”), which is already well recognised across the two counties for helping deliver advanced pre-hospital critical care on scene and en-route to hospital, in time-critical situations.
With two helicopters, the charity expects to reach over 150 more patients each year during its current 19-hour day of operations, with the potential of reaching even more patients through extended operating hours in the future.
Thousands of people and businesses in the local community have helped make the arrival of the second helicopter a reality, raising £670,000 so far towards the charity’s £1 million 2nd Heli Appeal.
In recognition of that support, the charity will give the community the opportunity to name ‘their’ helicopter when it launches a ‘Naming Campaign’ on Tuesday 30 June.
Charles Hackett, CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said: “Seeing the helicopter arrive at Henstridge is a proud and emotional moment and marks a major step forward in our ability to reach even more patients when they need us most. We are incredibly grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, whose kindness and belief in our mission have made this milestone possible. As we prepare for the aircraft to begin operations, we want to thank everyone who has helped bring it into service. This is a helicopter made possible by our community, and it feels only fitting that the community will soon help to give it a name.”
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) is a vital charity that provides life-saving, pre-hospital critical care across the South West of England. Operating 19 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service brings highly skilled doctors and critical care paramedics directly to the scene of serious incidents using their state-of-the-art helicopters.
The team responds to nearly 3,000 missions annually, essentially acting as a mobile intensive care unit to treat critically ill or injured patients. Because the service receives no direct funding from the government or the National Lottery, it relies entirely on the generosity and fundraising efforts of the local community to cover its multi-million-pound yearly running costs.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Second AW169 Helicopter
Helicopter Naming Campaign
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s second Leonardo AW169 helicopter has touched down at Henstridge Airfield for the first time, marking a major step forward in the charity’s mission to reach more patients and save more lives.
For the second helicopter, funded entirely through public donations, the charity will launch a community naming campaign on June 30, 2026, inviting local residents to choose the aircraft’s name.
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DSAA second AW169 first time touched down
Did you know?
- The Leonardo AW169 has become one of the fastest-growing helicopter types in the air ambulance sector. Designed as a modern light-intermediate twin-engine helicopter, it bridges the gap between smaller aircraft such as the H135 and larger platforms like the AW139. Its spacious cabin can accommodate two stretchers and multiple medical crew members while providing full standing access around the patient during treatment. The type is increasingly used by HEMS operators across Europe, Australia, and Asia thanks to its combination of speed, range, advanced avionics, and low operating costs. Several major emergency medical services, including those in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have adopted the AW169 for both primary rescue missions and critical care patient transport.