RAF helicopters support health services in Highlands and Islands
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RAF Puma helicopters have been operating in Caithness and other parts of the north in support of health services during the coronavirus outbreak.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This week they are undertaking a series of training flights around the Highlands and Islands in conjunction with the Scottish Ambulance Service."
Three RAF Puma HC2 helicopters, which are painted dark green, have recently been deployed to Kinloss Barracks in Moray to support Scottish health boards during the pandemic.
They are part of the Aviation Task Force which has helicopters on standby across the country to support the UK Government’s Covid-19 response.
Working with the Army Air Corps Wildcat, RAF Chinook and Royal Navy Merlin, the RAF Puma provides essential medical evacuation capabilities as well as the ability to deliver essential equipment and personnel to where they are needed.
Squadron leader Johnny Longland, the Puma detachment commander, said: “This ground-based training has been essential to help us better support the NHS in Scotland.
"My crews haven’t conducted medical evacuations with NHS partners before but their vast operational experience will ensure that they can deliver whatever is needed when the time comes.
"The trial runs were a huge success and mean we can work together seamlessly to provide a lifesaving service.”
The Pumas are able to evacuate patients from the far north using a device called an EpiShuttle which can safely transport anyone who is potentially Covid-19 positive without infecting the doctors or crews.
Two helicopters will remain at readiness, with the third available as a spare and used to transport lifesaving NHS equipment and personnel as required.
Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "The fight against Covid-19 has required the NHS to think differently and to move at pace.
"By adapting our approach and using this latest available technology, we are taking swift action in the best interests of patients and our hard-working staff – while increasing our capacity.
"The introduction of EpiShuttles will increase the range of options available to us as a service as we deal with Covid-19 cases, particularly for rural and island communities.
"I’d like to thank our colleagues at Transport Scotland, Loganair and the RAF who have offered fantastic assistance to us through aircraft and staff.
"It has been a real team effort and means we have the full range of resources available to us to enable us to react to any situation as we continue to help communities across Scotland in the months ahead."
Several people witnessed the helicopter movements across Caithness this week, leading to some online speculation as to their purpose.
Adam James Seaman, who took a photo of a Puma in Thurso, said it was "down for only 30 to 45 seconds – long enough for someone to maybe jump off". Video footage of the same helicopter showed it hovering over rooftops before disappearing out of sight near Thurso High School.
The images followed other reports of similar aircraft being seen around Keiss and flying around the top of Newtonhill, near Wick.
