Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance say £2 million raised will "save countless lives"
The air ambulance team's appeal has reached £2 million
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance say their appeal reaching £2 million will "save countless lives".
The Operation Airbase appeal was set up with the aims to raise £3.6 million to convert and equip its newly purchased Southampton airbase headquarters.
Moving from its current airbase in Thruxton, Andover, the team say they hope the central location in the region will mean crews will reach patients within 10-minutes of take-off.
Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said: "This money will be dedicated to fitting out the new airbase.
"We've bought the building, but there is a significant amount of work to do to turn it into a functioning operating base.
"We need to build a hanger, we need to build a gym, training facilities, a helipad, and all the assorted things that go with that.
"Really, it's about making sure that our crew have the best possible facilities, they have a place where they can hone their skills, a place where they can rest, relax and decompress, but also a place that's in the right location.
"So Southampton Airport puts us within 10-minute flight time of every patient that we would need to treat in our region, and that's going to save countless lives."
The new building will house the charity's helicopter, its four emergency response vehicles, training, aftercare for patients and families, and a dedicated visitor centre.
The charity is aiming to begin operations from the new base in Spring 2026.
Mr Wilson added: "Every donation that we receive towards the appeal pushes us closer to that point where we can have that first flight into the building, cut the ribbon, or whatever it is that we do to mark that moment.
"The operational side of our service will be live in that building from Spring in 2026.
"The appeal itself has been a success because of the generosity of the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
"So really everyone at Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Air Ambulance on the charity side, our crew, our clinicians, and our pilots are deeply, deeply grateful to the public for all they have done to make this vision and dream almost a reality."