Meet Pilot Dan Mansell

On 11 November 2025, we welcomed our new Pilot, Dan Mansell, to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). Dan is one of our permanent base Pilots and joins us from a varied civilian aviation background. Having flown for East Anglian Air Ambulance, supported oil and gas operations in the North Sea, and worked with the National Police Air Service, Dan brings a wealth of experience to the team. It’s time to find out a little bit more about the man inside the helmet.

Can you tell us about your career pathway into Helicopter Emergency Services?

Becoming a Pilot was a total career change for me. I grew up near Boscombe Down and was always mesmerised by the helicopters and aeroplanes buzzing around. My grandfather actually joined the Royal Air Force and was posted to Boscombe Down as a Flight Engineer on a short-nosed flying boat for Coastal Command, searching for U-boats. He later worked on seaplanes and eventually on the British Airways fleet of Boeing 747s and then a whisker away from being a Flight Engineer on the mighty Concorde. So, a shout out to him!

Training to be a pilot was always something I wanted to do, although for a long time it felt out of reach. After finishing university studying Business, I lived and worked in London doing contract and project management. At the end of 2011, it became a now-or-never moment.

I started flying with a trial lesson in 2012 and never stopped. I did my training at Gloucestershire Airport, which is a fantastic facility. I went on to complete my commercial licence and instrument rating with some amazing instructors. I vividly remember seeing photos on the walls of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and police aircraft and thinking it felt so far away. Trust the process!

With my licence still fresh and very little experience, the traditional route into North Sea oil and gas had slowed due to a downturn in the industry. Fortunately, the training school took me on as an instructor, and after that I began flying onshore charter. That was the real start of my career as a helicopter pilot.

I then worked overseas on four-week rotations before returning to the UK in 2018 to fly the H145 with Babcock International (GWAAC’s aviation partner) for East Anglian Air Ambulance. I was a Co-Pilot at their Cambridge base for nearly three years before moving to Aberdeen to fly the larger H175 for oil and gas operations in the North Sea. Being a co-pilot was an incredible opportunity to absorb knowledge and learn from highly experienced colleagues—something that laid a solid foundation for the role I do now.

During the COVID pandemic, my wife and I decided to move back home to Gloucestershire. With our second boy , being closer to family made sense. I commuted to Aberdeen for a while before securing a role closer to home with the National Police Air Service in Birmingham. It was an amazing job—dynamic, rewarding and often challenging—acting as “eyes in the sky” and supporting teams on the ground.

I later returned to Babcock as a Touring Pilot, mainly flying again for East Anglian Air Ambulance. When I heard a role at GWAAC was coming up, I jumped at the chance. These roles close to home don’t come up very often. It’s special to work for a charity saving lives in your own community.

How are you finding life at GWAAC?

I really like the family feel at GWAAC. It’s a relatively small charity compared to some other air ambulance services, and that makes it feel more intimate and close-knit. I feel fortunate to work alongside inspirational clinicians who are at the top of their game.

I’m also enjoying the mix of topography across the region. The combination of urban and rural environments makes the EC135 such a suitable aircraft — we’d struggle to find landing spots in central Bristol with something larger. It’s an awesome machine to fly, especially alongside our Technical Crew Member.

Since starting, we’ve attended a wide variety of incidents. It’s been both interesting and challenging.

Have you conveyed a patient to hospital yet?

Yes, my first convey with GWAAC was during line training in November 2025, and I’ve conveyed more patients since.

In the moment, everyone focuses on the task in hand and doing it safely. It’s often only once the patient has been transferred and we return to base that we reflect and review as a crew.

The helicopter really comes into its own when speed of treatment is critical, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas. Getting specialist clinicians and equipment to the patient quickly can make all the difference.

Every call requires careful assessment—whether to respond by helicopter or critical care car depends on factors like weather, location and suitable landing sites. Similarly, when deciding whether to convey by air, we consider terrain, safety, loading practicality and which hospital provides the specialist care required; it’s not always the closest.

What are you looking forward to most at GWAAC?

Meeting former patients when they’re well again. That’s incredibly rewarding. Even when outcomes aren’t what we hope for, meeting families reminds you of the importance of the work.

Have you got a favourite view of the region?

Flying over the Clifton Suspension Bridge is very cool. I also love flying up from Weston-super-Mare along the coastline past Clevedon and the cliffs.

Cheddar Gorge, the Wye Valley and the Cotswolds are all stunning from the air.

What inspires you and what are your future ambitions?

It’s been a great journey getting to this point. I’ve enjoyed the challenges. flying off boats, night operations and gained valuable experience along the way.

For now, my priority is my two young children. A steady, fulfilling role with GWAAC suits me perfectly. Who knows what’s next?

What would you do if you weren't a pilot?

I enjoy DIY, though I’d like to be better at it! Maybe an all-round builder. I’m interested in business too… although being a farmer in New Zealand would be high on the list.

What would you say your biggest achievement to date is?

I remember doing my instrument rating and seeing photos of police and air ambulance helicopters on the wall, thinking those roles felt so out of reach. Achieving that has been a proud moment.

None of it would have been possible without the support of my wife and family, especially during our move to Aberdeen during the COVID era.

If you could own your own helicopter, what would it be?

Assuming money was no object, the H160. That would be the dream, with custom livery… and a yacht to land it on! Spacious, fast, smooth, with fantastic performance. I’ll put it on the Christmas list.

What do you do to relax and wind down?

I enjoy squash and padel, cycling in the summer and I’ve recently taken up CrossFit again, although my body reminds me that I’m not 25 anymore! Most of my spare time though, is spent with my little people and tackling jobs around the house.

What are your three favourite things in life and your three most hated things in life?

Likes:
* Time with my family, especially walking in the Malvern Hills

* Meeting up with old friends

* That satisfying tired feeling after a hard day’s work

* And I love a good wedding!

Dislikes..

* Middle lane drivers

* Consistently rude people

* People who act purely for their own benefit at the expense of others

Tea or coffee? We need to know…

Earl Grey tea with a chocolate Hobnob.

And one word to describe yourself?

That’s a tough one! Adaptable.

Anything else you’d like to add?

The charity side of GWAAC plays a vital role in keeping everything going behind the scenes. Not everyone gets the chance to see a helicopter up close, so I’m looking forward to meeting people when we’re out and about and helping them understand what GWAAC does.

The helicopter is unique. It’s loud and bright, but it’s about the people on board and the care we provide, please come over and say hello.