A former air ambulance pilot from the east of England has been named Pilot of the Year for the second time. Captain Steve Norris, who stepped down from his role with East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) earlier this year, was recognised at the Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence held in Coventry last week. He was first awarded the Pilot of the Year accolade in 2016.
After flying Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) tasks for 18 years, Captain Steve was EAAA’s longest-serving pilot. He stepped down from his role with EAAA’s aviation partner, Babcock International Group (Babcock) earlier this year, when he was also the second-longest serving HEMS pilot in the UK. The award of ‘Pilot of the Year’ recognises Captain Steve’s incredible service.
Captain Norris said: “I am truly humbled to have been recognised at this year’s Air Ambulance UK Awards of Excellence. Although I recently retired from the role, it means so much to represent Babcock and EAAA. I’ve flown approximately 3,800 helicopter emergency missions for the charity and it’s a privilege to have helped provide critical care to so many people.”
The annual Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence event celebrates the remarkable achievements and dedication of those who bring their specialist life-saving skills to the air ambulance sector across the UK. Steve was presented his award by Air Ambulances UK ambassador, Charlotte Hawkins, at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Thursday 28 November.
The judging panel not only recognised Captain Steve’s years of service and dedication to the charity, which provides advanced critical care 24/7 to seriously injured and unwell people in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, but also his commitment to the patients and families attended by EAAA.
Air Ambulances UK said: “Steve has completed 163 missions over the past year, including 44 in the dark and 56 with seriously ill patients onboard. His dedication to flying clinicians to emergencies is matched by his personal commitment to families, offering support during life-changing moments. Steve’s contributions extend beyond flying, as he actively participates in awareness campaigns and assisted with securing Jubilee medals for frontline staff.”
Simmy Akhtar, CEO of Air Ambulances UK, said, “Congratulations to our 2024 Awards of Excellence winners. Our judging panel was once again met with the challenging task of selecting this year’s winners. Thank you to all in our air ambulance community for your dedication to the life-saving work of air ambulance charities across the UK.”
For more information about East Anglian Air Ambulance, visit East Anglian Air Ambulance – Saving lives across East Anglia
