Air Ambulance contract

Helicoper firm flies high after Air Ambulance contract win

Sloane Helicopters, based at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire, has won a contract from The Children’s Air Ambulance to supply two new helicopters.

The EMS AW169 aircraft, along with pilots and aircraft maintenance, are due to land later this year. The service, which began in March, currently operates with an EMS AW109SP GrandNew until the new AW169s arrive.

Sloane has worked with The Air Ambulance Service for 23 years. A spokesman said the new contract is an excellent step forward for Sloane’s helicopter emergency medical service operations as the company expands into the AW169 HEMS sector. The addition of the helicopters supports Sloane’s growing HEMS fleet which has doubled in size over the past four years, including two new AW109SP EMS helicopters delivered early in 2021.

Sloane is also to remain sole UK and Ireland distributor and authorised service centre for Leonardo Helicopters after renewing the agreement between the two companies until 2024. The deal was signed at the Farnborough Air Show in July.

Leonardo is the leading twin-engine helicopter manufacturer. The agreement covers the AW109 GrandNew, AW109 Trekker and AW169 types and foresees a minimum of seven new helicopters purchased by 2024. The new contract with The Children’s Air Ambulance furthers a 23-year working relationship with the organisation for Sloane Helicopters

The new contract expands the total helicopter orders by Sloane Helicopters this year to seven, all scheduled for delivery within 2023. The deal demonstrates the strong market demand in the UK for the class-leading light twin type, the company says.

The Distributorship Agreement has cut delivery times and provided customers with product expertise and a full range of support packages. Leonardo launched its new Agusta model VIP brand late last year.

Sloane Helicopters chairman David George said: “We are delighted to continue and further develop our close partnership with Leonardo. The new Agusta branding focuses on an enhanced VIP customer experience.”

Sloane Helicopters and Leonardo have worked together since 1995, when Sloane became the sole distributor of Leonardo VIP/corporate helicopter in the UK and Ireland. Under the collaboration, more than 100 Leonardo commercial helicopters have been delivered to operators and private users.

Logistics firms receive M1 boost

Four lanes on the M1 in Northamptonshire are now available to traffic, National Highways has announced.

All four lanes on the ninemile stretch between Newport Pagnell Services and junction 15 Northampton are available for use with a 60mph speed limit along the stretch which carries on average 125,000 vehicles a day. New lanes will also open between junction 15 and junction 16 Upper Heyford Interchange next month. Both upgraded sections are expected to be fully open, with the 70mph speed limit, before the end of the year.

A 60mph speed limit, temporary additional CCTV from the roadworks and a free recovery service will remain in place while final technology tests are carried out.

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£14m scheme to boost town’s connectivity

Vital for business success: Council welcomes investment

Wellingborough is set for a £14 million investment in a new full fibre broadband network.

The town is to join the growing list of those across the UK to receive new digital infrastructure installed by CityFibre. It is preparing to start work on a new townwide network that will bring fast and reliable full fibreenabled internet services within reach of almost every business and home.

CityFibre has already installed similar infrastructure in Northampton and work is well under way in Kettering.

North Northamptonshire Council says that strong commercial investment is critical to boost much-needed full fibre coverage. Coverage has increased from 19 per cent in August 2021 to more than 35 per cent.

Cllr David Howes, executive member for rural communities and localism, said: “Full fibre connectivity is increasingly important for business success and innovation, for improving the quality of life of our residents and enabling environmental benefits.”

Full fibre networks, unlike many of the copper-based fibre broadband services available, use 100 per cent fibre optic technology to carry data at light speed from the home to the point of connection. This gives users speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for upload and download (up to 1,000 Mbps), near limitless bandwidth and connectivity on which users can depend. CityFibre says it will drive a range of economic benefits, such as increased productivity and innovation.

Its Northamptonshire area manager James Cushing said: “Our full fibre network will transform Wellingborough’s digital capabilities for New full fibre broadband infrastructure is coming to Wellingborough. Left: James Cushing, CityFibre’s area manager

decades to come. Our builders will get to work on the network roll-out this autumn and as properties are linked up to the network, we cannot wait for residents and businesses to see what is possible with digital connectivity that propels you forward rather than holds you back.”

In Wellingborough, services will be available from an increasing range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is working with launch partner Vodafone to supply full fibre infrastructure for customers on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, as well as TalkTalk, IDNet, Giganet and Zen. Other providers are expected to join the network soon.

Cllr Howes said: “Getting the right digital infrastructure in place is a big priority for the council. This needs to be fit for the longer term.”

Work is under way to connect around 3,000 businesses and homes in Brackley to ultra-fast broadband. Provider Gigaclear specialises in providing its full-fibre network to market towns and rural areas across central and southern England.

Regional manager Tony Smith said: “This is going to be a game-changer for Brackley. Having access to reliable and fast broadband speeds is no longer a luxury but is necessary in order for many people to live their lives fully.”