Expert chopper pilot wins award for SCAA rescue flights from Perth

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance’s (SCAA) longest-serving pilot has proved he’s the best in the business.Perthshire-based captain Russell Myles, who helped establish the charity’s life-saving service 10 year ago, has won the prestigious Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence “Pilot of the Year” title, marking him out as the sector’s top UK pilot in 2023.Russell (59) played a pivotal role in setting up a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) based at Perth in 2013 and has used his extensive flying experience and outstanding skills to create an operation tailored for Scotland’s unique environment.Announcing the award at a special event in London, judges told how Russell’s “exceptional flying skills” over the past decade have impacted countless lives, navigating through Scotland’s challenging terrain and weather conditions.Air ambulance crews and charity staff from across the UK heard that his “expertise and dedication” served as a lifeline for numerous families – also earning admiration from fellow pilots for his mentorship, patience and outstanding skill in handling aircraft in Scotland’s demanding terrain and weather conditions.A delighted Russell said he was “thrilled and honoured” to receive the national recognition and acknowledged the strong competition he faced from other shortlisted air ambulance pilots.Originally from Northern Ireland and now staying in Perthshire, the former military and civilian pilot said his decade with SCAA, working through Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore, has been one of the most rewarding roles of his career.“It was really good to be involved right from the beginning at SCAA and see it grow into a two-base, two-helicopter, operation that serves the whole of Scotland,” he