Charity, Dorset | Posted on January 28th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset air ambulance announces plans for a new base

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance plans to move to a new operations base in Yeovil ahead of adding a second helicopter.

A life-saving air ambulance service has announced plans to move to a new operations base in Yeovil as part of its preparations for purchasing and equipping a second helicopter.

Demand for the services of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) continues to grow. According to DSAA, its missions have more than tripled in the last 10 years.

To meet this demand, DSAA revealed plans in January to expand its capacity and ensure long-term resilience.

It has agreed a 35-year lease to develop a new operational base at the Leonardo site in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters. Leonardo will not charge the charity any rent to use the site.

The new base will offer purpose-built spaces for patient interaction, training, operational coordination and community engagement, ensuring the charity can continue to provide care to people across Dorset and Somerset for decades to come.

According to DSAA analysis, Yeovil’s location provides excellent aircraft coverage across the entire Dorset and Somerset region, while immediate access to major roads will enhance deployment for rapid response vehicles.

The charity’s next steps involve a public consultation, followed by securing planning permission and raising the necessary funds to develop the base. Until then, DSAA will continue operating from Henstridge Airfield.

Charles Hackett, CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said: “Firstly, and most importantly, we want to express our sincere thanks for the wonderful support we have received, and continue to receive, from Geoff Jarvis at Henstridge Airfield and the local community. Their support has taken us from our humble beginnings as a very small operation, flying only a few hours a day, to a transformation in care for our patients. Today, DSAA is one of the most advanced air ambulance services in the UK, touching thousands of lives every year.

“We want to assure the people of Yeovil and our wider community that we are committed to working transparently and collaboratively with all stakeholders throughout the process. To this end, DSAA will be launching a public consultation in mid-2026, giving residents and stakeholders the chance to view the emerging proposals, ask questions and share their views. We hope the consultation will help shape our plans and build backing for the new facility, designed to support our life-saving service for years to come.

“As we embark on this exciting journey, we remain dedicated to providing critical care and rapid response to those in need. In the meantime, we are deeply grateful to be able to continue operating from Henstridge thanks to the incredible support of Geoff Jarvis and all those who support our life-saving work.”

DSAA also provided an update on its acquisition of a second helicopter. The aircraft has undergone test flights and is now getting ready for its flight to Gloucestershire Airport, where Gama Aviation will customise it for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service missions. The second helicopter is expected to be operational in summer 2026.

The charity’s team of highly skilled pilots, critical care practitioners and doctors are operational for 19 hours a day (7am to 2am), 365 days a year. For more information on DSAA, visit www.dsairambulance.org.uk.