Centreline AV Ltd has acquired the trading name and assets of Capital Air Ambulance from the Rigby Group.
Part of Pula Aviation Services Ltd (PASL), Centreline has acquired two King Air 200 series aircraft, ground ambulances and a significant suite of specialist medical equipment as part of the deal.
Steve Page, CEO of PASL, said the move was part of the company’s strategy for growth in developing significant synergies with existing operational activities. “This acquisition provides us with a new capability and supports our growth strategy, in this case diversifying our aircraft charter operations and entering into the special mission sector of aircraft operations,” he said.
Capital Air Ambulance’s high standards, asset base and strategic alliances offers strong synergies with PASL’s in-house King Air maintenance expertise in Guernsey, said the company. Capital’s acquisition will integrate into Centreline’s aircraft operations, airworthiness infrastructure and FBO facilities at Bristol Airport, UK, which will be the new home base for Capital Air Ambulance.
FBO facilities
The co-founders of Capital Air Ambulance, Malcolm and Lisa Humphries will join the PASL Group to share their wide experience in air ambulance markets. Lisa Humphries will assume the role of head of Medical Services to oversee Capital’s commercial and customer-relation activities.
Malcolm Humphries said: “As Capital Air Ambulance celebrates 25 years in aviation, this is an exciting new chapter in our history and ensures the dedicated aeromedical services and high-quality patient care Capital is associated with will continue to be available to our very established customer base.”
Customer repatriation
Dave Lees, CEO, Bristol Airport, welcomed the decision to integrate the Capital Air Ambulance business with Centreline and open the base at Bristol Airport. “This type of emergency ‘bed-to-bed’ medical service complements the wide range of services the airport already provides. Bristol Airport’s portfolio of services provides customer repatriation, medical evacuation, military training, pilot training, commercial and charter flights all demonstrating the value Bristol Airport adds to the region. We look forward to working with PASL and collaborating on their future growth.”
Leading the medical team for Capital is medical director Dr Rowan Hardy, who will focus on patient care while taking an active role in the safety programme and standard operating procedures of an integrated medical and aviation team.
Offering medical experts 24 hours a day and seven days a week, the Capital Air Ambulance team will also work closely with the National Health Service to provide patients an inter-UK hospital-to-hospital transfer by air or ground ambulance, to alleviate pressure on NHS ambulance services and medical teams.
Steve Page (left) and Malcolm Humphries stand each side of a Capital Air Ambulance King Air 200 series aircraft.
