The need for a new, purpose-built airbase to support lifesaving helicopter missions across Warwickshire was the focus of discussions when the Warwick and Leamington MP visited The Air Ambulance Service on 21 July.
Why a new base is being proposed
The charity, which provides air ambulance cover for Warwickshire as well as Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, currently operates missions from Coventry Airport. The airport closed in June but the service has obtained temporary permission to continue launching missions from there until a new base is completed. The proposed facility would be built on land at Catthorpe.
Charity leaders say the development is intended to provide bespoke facilities for crews and families, and to strengthen the capacity of the National Children's Air Ambulance, which conducts hospital transfers of critically ill children and babies.
"In 2025 we flew 470 emergencies across Warwickshire, and many of those lifesaving missions launched from Coventry... As air ambulance charities are funded entirely from donations and receive no NHS or public funding, we have launched Big Bases Appeal – a campaign that gives the public an opportunity to contribute to the construction of the new base."
The quote above, given by the charity's Chief Operating Officer during the MP's tour, underlines the combination of operational need and fundraising challenge: the service says it receives no NHS or public funding and relies solely on donations.
Local political engagement and implications
The visit was led by the local MP, who said the new building offered a "fantastic opportunity" to secure a purpose-built facility less than 15 miles away that will help maintain access to emergency care across Warwick. The meeting provided an opportunity for the MP to see operational needs first-hand and to discuss how the new base would support emergency provision.
- Operational continuity: temporary permission at Coventry Airport allows existing missions to continue while a permanent site is developed.
- Service area: the charity covers five counties, including Warwickshire.
- Fundraising appeal: the Big Bases Appeal is the route to raise capital for construction.
Facilities and service benefits claimed
The charity has outlined intended features for the new base. These include state-of-the-art crew training and rest areas, dedicated family-friendly spaces for aftercare and recovery support, and enhanced capacity for paediatric transfers. Supporters argue that purpose-built infrastructure would improve readiness, welfare and the quality of transfer operations for critically ill patients.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Missions flown across Warwickshire (2025) | 470 |
| Current launch site | Coventry Airport (temporary permission retained) |
| Planned new site | Land at Catthorpe |
For Warwick residents the key questions will be how quickly the new base can be delivered, how temporary arrangements at Coventry will be managed in the interim, and how the Big Bases Appeal will be progressed locally. The charity's reliance on donations means community support will be central to the timetable for construction and commissioning.
Local health partners and emergency planners will be watching the project closely to understand how response times and transfer capacity might be affected once a permanent base is in operation. The MP's engagement signals political awareness of the issue, but delivery will depend on planning, fundraising and the logistics of relocating operations from an airport that has ceased regular use.
Further updates are expected as the charity progresses the Big Bases Appeal and confirms planning and funding milestones for the Catthorpe site.
