DORSET’s air ambulance is due to be back in the sky tomorrow morning after being grounded amid safety fears.

Twenty-two Eurocopter EC135 helicopters were withdrawn by main operator Bond Air Services over concerns about possible cracks in the rotor blades.

Safety checks were ordered last month after a crack was found on the main rotor hub of one EC135 which could cause a helicopter to crash. The model is used by air ambulance services in Dorset and Somerset, Devon and Hampshire as well as the Midlands, the North West, Thames Valley, Scotland and Wales.

After the European Aviation Safety Agency ordered daily safety inspections, Bond said an additional safety notice had been issued by Eurocopter following further reports of cracks in several helicopters.

While the chopper was grounded paramedics normally assigned to the Dorset Air Ambulance answered calls by road.

But tonight it was confirmed that the ban had been lifted.

Tracy Bartram from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said: “We have had confirmation from Bond Air Services that their temporary suspension from flight for the EC135 will be lifted with effect from 7am on Wednesday. This follows receipt from Eurocopter of evidence giving Bond Air Services the level of flight safety assurance that they sought.”

Eurocopter had not ordered that the fleet be grounded but Bond said it had felt compelled to take that decision, adding earlier today: “Eurocopter need to give a definitive statement about the problem and the solution to it. “Until that happens we’ve taken the view that safety comes first and have suspended the service.” It is understood that while Hampshire’s EC135 is being serviced a replacement Bolkow helicopter is being used.