Northern Ireland's first helicopter air ambulance is making its way around the region, local news outlets report. One of the two Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) Airbus Helicopters EC135s, supplied by Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore, is currently visiting some of the areas it will be servicing. On Wednesday, it touched down in Ulster and will visit Enniskillen and Portsteward before the end of the week.

No decisions have been made about a permanent base, or staffing of that base, for the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS). Nonetheless, ANNI said it is taking the helicopter on tour to show gratitude for public support of the program, and to encourage others to get involved. The HEMS program is set to start by March of next year.