Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) was established in 2003, with its first operational mission taking place in 2007. Created to provide rapid critical care to people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the charity was born out of community fundraising and the recognition that the region needed faster access to life-saving emergency services. From the outset, the service was designed to complement existing NHS emergency response teams by delivering advanced medical expertise and equipment directly to incident sites, often within minutes.

Over the years, HIOWAA has reached several milestones that reflect its growth and impact. In 2016, it introduced a new state-of-the-art helicopter, enhancing its range and medical capabilities. In 2020, the service marked a major achievement by completing its 10,000th mission, a testament to its vital role in the region’s emergency care network. More recently, it expanded its operations to provide critical care cars, ensuring round-the-clock coverage even when weather conditions ground the helicopter. These milestones highlight HIOWAA’s evolution from a regional initiative into a cornerstone of emergency medical response, saving countless lives through continuous innovation and dedication.

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance helicopter is currently based at Thruxton Airfield, near Andover. They are also constructing a new base at George Curl Way, on the southern edge of Southampton Airport, which is expected to become fully operational by around March 2026.