Devon Air Ambulance community landing site now operational in North Down Crescent, Keyham

Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) have opened their first ever Community Landing Site in Plymouth. The site is now operational in the Keyham area of the city.

This is a milestone for the charity’s Community Landing Site project, the first official city centre landing site and the first within Plymouth itself.

The charity’s 203rd pre-surveyed landing site will enable their aircraft to land quickly and safely in the densely populated and heavily urbanised city of Plymouth during the hours of darkness, enabling their clinical teams to be able to reach patients more quickly.

Graham Coates, Landing Site Manager at Devon Air Ambulance said,

‘It’s great news that this community landing site at North Down Crescent in Keyham is now operational and we can reach even more local people by air when its dark. My thanks to Liz and Daisy and their team at Plymouth City Council for their support in getting this landing site operational. The local Neighbourhood Watch and Local Councillors have also been very supportive, as have the residents of Keyham who were all positive in their support for DAA. Our thanks to them for enabling this landing site project to come together so successfully.’

The project at North Down Crescent Park involved surveying the playing field so that DAA’s aircrew can get a better understanding of the key features of the site and the landscape surrounding it before they arrive on scene by helicopter.

Cllr Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change said,

‘We’re delighted that the park at North Down Crescent is now officially a Devon Air Ambulance nighttime landing spot. We’re hoping it never has to be used but with the site now operational it could potentially be lifesaving to anyone needing it in the surrounding area, something we are proud to be able to offer the community.’

The next stages of the Community Landing Site project for DAA in Plymouth is to establish a pre-surveyed site at Central Park. The charity will work with local stakeholders in the area to ensure that those residing in this area of Plymouth are also able to benefit from their lifesaving care should they need it.

Graham Coates went on to say,

‘Plymouth City Council and the Local Councillors have all been really supportive and it’s great to see one landing site become operational in a busy city centre. Our next site in Central Park will simply increase the number of patients we can reach quickly and safely, during the hours of darkness. It is only with the support of local residents and the Council, that we are able to launch these two new sites in Plymouth, my thanks to everyone who has supported us.’

To find out more about DAA’s landing sites in your local area, please visit: https://www.daat.org/landing-site