At least three Air Ambulance services fly to the hospitals in Birmingham, over the last decade or so. The main one of course is the Midlands Air Ambulance (red helicopter). There is also the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (yellow helicopter). Plus sometimes the Wales Air Ambulance (red helicopter with green). They go to either Birmingham Children's Hospital or QEHB.

View feature View community

When the Air Ambulance flies patients to hospitals in Birmingham


When the Air Ambulance flies patients to hospitals in Birmingham


At least three Air Ambulance services fly to the hospitals in Birmingham, over the last decade or so. The main one of course is the Midlands Air Ambulance (red helicopter). There is also the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (yellow helicopter). Plus sometimes the Wales Air Ambulance (red helicopter with green). They go to either Birmingham Children's Hospital or QEHB.


Midlands Air Ambulance

It was during May 2011, when I got my first photo of the Midlands Air Ambulance. It was on the helipad near James Watt Queensway. On one of my many walks from work to get some lunch, saw it as I came off Aston Street (Aston University). Only had my then mobile on me. Police usually stop all traffic around the area. Including Corporation Street and at the Birmingham Children's Hospital on Steelhouse Lane.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (May 2011).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The next time I saw it was around April 2013. Again mobile shots as I didn't want to take my then big camera to work with me at the time. This view of the Midlands Air Ambulance from Ryder Street.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Apr 2013) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crossed over the lights on James Watt Queensway and got this view towards the Birmingham Children's Hospital.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Apr 2013) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Caught it taking off as I walked back to work via the Aston University grounds. Corporation Street to the left.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Apr 2013) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Midlands Air Ambulance was on it's way as seen from James Watt Queensway. I think this was near a bus stop. The new Aston University student accommodation phase 2 was under construction at the time, and the old Stafford Tower would not get demolished until 2014.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Apr 2013) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In July 2014, I saw the Midlands Air Ambulance from the Aston Webb Boulevard in Selly Oak (the Selly Oak Bypass). It was heading towards the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Jul 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

During April 2017, on a walk down the Merritt's Brook Greenway in Northfield. Saw the Midlands Air Ambulance fly overhead. I was near Meadow Brook at the time. This was not too far from Ley Hill Park.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Apr 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In December 2017, I saw this Midlands Air Ambulance heading to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Dec 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Would assume the Midlands Air Ambulance was heading to the helipad, although I've never seen it myself.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Dec 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This one is G-OMAA. It is a Airbus Helicopters H135. It is operated by Babcock MCS Onshore.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Dec 2017) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Saw the Midlands Air Ambulance again, this time during July 2018. The view from near the Bourn Brook Walkway in Harborne and I was on Arosa Drive at the time. Was walking to Quinton Road. It was G-OMAA again.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance (Jul 2018).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In May 2019, near The Bull Ring Indoor Market, was a Midlands Air Ambulance car (7064), next to a West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust ambulance (4323). They were seen from Edgbaston Street and Gloucester Street, also near the Bull Ring Outdoor Market (the Rag Market is to the left off camera).

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance car" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance car (May 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A few months later, during August 2019, and I was in the Library of Birmingham, getting views from the Secret Garden. When I zoomed down to Bridge Street between Arena Central and the Hyatt Regency Birmingham, and saw the Midlands Air Ambulance car (7064) again. That was the year when the Westside Metro Extension to Centenary Square was getting completed. Library Tram Stop opened here by December 2019.

dndimg alt="Midlands Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midlands Air Ambulance car (Aug 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance

I first saw the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance in February 2012. I was on Moor Street Queensway, and had my then bridge camera on me, so got some decent views. It was near Hotel La Tour and the McLaren Building, heading to the helipad at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

dndimg alt="Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WNAA (Feb 2012) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen here passing the McLaren Building. Years before Exchange Square was built they could fly around here, but this route is no longer possible for Air Ambulances.

dndimg alt="Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WNAA (Feb 2012) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In August 2013 I saw the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance on the helipad from James Watt Queensway. Again a mobile shot, on one of my lunchtime walks from work to get lunch. As per usual, the Police sealed off all the surrounding roads, as the paramedics took the patient to the Birmingham Children's Hospital.

dndimg alt="Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WNAA (Aug 2013).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Wales Air Ambulance

I first saw the Wales Air Ambulance landed on the helipad at Birmingham Children's Hospital from James Watt Queensway during November 2014. This one is a bit rare coming to Birmingham. The Teenage Cancer Trust building is behind.

dndimg alt="Wales Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wales Air Ambulance (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The last time I saw the Wales Air Ambulance was from Bournville during September 2019. I was on Oak Tree Lane, walking from Selly Manor to the Serbian Orthodox Church during Birmingham Heritage Week. I haven't seen this helicopter again since then.

dndimg alt="Wales Air Ambulance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wales Air Ambulance (Sept 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown