A FORMER helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force will become the new chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).

Tony Nicholson will step into his new role today and will oversee the charity’s further development, with the hope for helicopter upgrades to allow night-time emergency tasks.

Mr Nicholson, who takes over from Barry Lipscomb, has been a trustee of the charity since 2010 and was once a helicopter pilot himself, rising to senior rank in the Royal Air Force.

Mr Nicholson said: “Very simply, HIOWAA exists to save lives and help people and it’s a privilege to contribute to that.

“We couldn’t do it without the support we get from across our communities, the aircrews themselves, and our own small team and the volunteers who stand behind them.

“There are exciting new opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working on them with our partners in South Central Ambulance Service and NHS Foundation Trust and Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.”