Essex & Herts Air Ambulance is celebrating having been awarded its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which marks a significant milestone for the charity and secures operational independence for its life-saving work.
An AOC allows an organisation to operate its own aircraft. Securing the AOC follows three years of hard work and preparation by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and means it is now directly responsible for how its aircraft are run, day and night rather than relying on third parties.
Obtaining the AOC reduces the risk of disruption and gives Essex & Herts Air Ambulance more stability to keep flying whenever and wherever it’s needed.
According to CEO Mark Jarman-Howe, the new status means Essex & Herts Air Ambulance can be even more responsive to local needs. “We are committed to ensuring our service is the best it can be and securing our own Air Operator Certificate plays an important part in this. It’s a significant step in our journey and gives us the freedom to develop a service that continues to meet the evolving needs of people across Essex and Hertfordshire”.
Essex & Herts Air Ambulance joins a small number of other leading air ambulance services which already operate under their own AOCs including London’s Air Ambulance. It signals that Essex & Herts Air Ambulance has the necessary personnel, assets, and systems in place to ensure the highest safety standards.
Bill Long, Aviation Director at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, said: “Obtaining our AOC is both an exciting achievement and a significant responsibility. Our team has worked exceptionally hard to meet the CAA’s stringent requirements, and this success reflects their professionalism and dedication. With our own certificate, we now have the operational control and flexibility to ensure Essex & Herts Air Ambulance remains resilient, responsive, and ready to serve our communities when they need us most. This should be a source of pride for everyone at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and an important step in securing our future as a life-saving service.”
As a charity, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance relies fully on donations from people and businesses to keep its helicopters flying, to find out more or to donate, please visit ehaat.org