Representatives of the UK Emergency Services Network (ESN) and future users were recently in Blackpool for a day of testing the ESN Air network.

Simulation operations were held to test the network, so that it will be ready to support operations once ESN is deployed.

Chris Knowles, Chief Test Pilot, Nova Systems said: "During the tests we used our EC135 helicopter, which is the same kind of helicopter as used by the majority of HEMS aircraft for emergency services, air ambulance and NPAs and the police aircraft and we're trying to mimic their operations as much as possible. We've got instrumentation on the aircraft which effectively is going to tell us that the radio network that the Home Office are installing to support the emergency services is fully up and working and is going to support their operations. By operating as they do to the locations they do, we allow us to rope to gather the data to be able to ensure that the network is working correctly."

It is important to test the critical operational locations at the bases where the air ambulances live.
Tests were conducted on the ground, combined with 'columns' into the air as well as orbits around the base.

Accoding to Richard Watson, ESN Air User Engagement Lead, testing's gone really well. He said: "It was quite challenging because you have to coordinate, obviously, trying to operate as the emergency services do, but not getting in their way. It takes quite a lot of liaison in the days and weeks leading up to the trial to make sure that we can get in, let air traffic understand exactly what they're doing. And then, of course, we've got to try and fit in with the other stuff that's going on at the airports, or, for instance, get those special permissions.

When ESN is rolled out, 4G coverage will be delivered from 500 feet up to 10,000 feet, in addition to EE’s terrestrial network, so that flying emergency service responders can communicate and access life-saving data whilst in the air.