NI HEMS service officially takes to the skies
Emergency paramedics will be able to reach any part of Northern Ireland within 25 minutes.
The new helicopter service will be based at the Maze/Long Kesh near Lisburn and will be of most benefit to those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma.
Last month it was called out following a tractor accident involving a boy, 11, in Castlewellan, Co Down.
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service chief executive Shane Devlin said: "The introduction of HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) to our response model is a really positive advance in pre-hospital care throughout the region.
"The advanced medical interventions which can be delivered by our doctors and paramedics in the HEMS team at incidents where life may be ebbing away will further improve survival rates and help to ensure better patient outcomes.''
The campaign to create an air ambulance service has spanned many years.
It was a passion of race medic Dr John Hinds - who died aged 35 on July 4 2015, after a motorbike accident.
Wednesday's launch is the culmination of a 12-year campaign backed by members of the public.
A total of £2 million a year will need to be raised to sustain the helicopter operations.
The air ambulance will be based at the Maze/Long Kesh, with a backup helicopter stationed at St Angelo Airport, Enniskillen.
The German-made EC135 aircraft have been selected as the most suitable for the operating environment in Northern Ireland.
They will be staffed on a rota basis from six full-time paramedics, a team of 15 doctors and two pilots.
While the service was still undergoing testing a helicopter was called to help the boy hurt in Castlewellan.
He was flown to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
The air ambulance has attended a number of other incidents over recent weeks