Meet James 'JJ' John, Pilot

At Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, our crew are on call 365 days a year – including Christmas. While many of us are enjoying festive celebrations, our pilots and critical care teams are ready to respond at a moment’s notice. As part of our Fund 100 campaign, we spoke to James “JJ” John about life on the helicopter, teamwork, and what it means to be there for patients when it matters most. 

Can you introduce yourself?
My name is James John, but everyone knows me as JJ. I’ve been working at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance for six years, flying from both our Earls Colne and North Weald bases. 

What inspired you to become part of a HEMS crew?
Flying is considered a cool job in itself, but being able to do something meaningful with that skill makes it even more rewarding. It’s not just flying the helicopter – it’s helping on scene, seeing patients recover, and hearing about their outcomes, especially the positive ones. That’s where the real job satisfaction comes from. 

What do you enjoy most about being part of a HEMS team?
I find the combination of aviation and medicine fascinating. While flying is my passion, the longer I’ve been here, the more interested I’ve become in the aviation-medicine side. It’s especially rewarding to step in and help on jobs where it’s just our crew on scene and although that doesn’t happen often, it’s great for us to be able to get involved and help make a real difference. 

How do you prepare yourself practically and mentally for what you might face?
Being a HEMS pilot is something you learn best by doing. You’ll see people at their worst, which can be tough at first. But as a team, we stick close together. We debrief after every job and there’s a strong support network here at EHAAT. Over time, you learn to focus on the job without getting distracted by the challenging situations you encounter. 

How important is training and teamwork?
Training is a part of every day. Even if we can’t fly due to the weather, pilots discuss technical aspects of the aircraft, flight profiles, and run through jobs. Meanwhile, the medical crew is training on interventions, and we often help them practice, whether by simulating a member of the public or assisting with exercises. Teamwork and shared learning are central to everything we do. 

What’s it like working at Christmas knowing you may be called away from family celebrations?
Being called out over Christmas is always difficult. When I’m at work I’m away from home, and my family, especially my children, understandably find it hard. But we know we’re here for a reason – when the phone goes, somebody is clearly having a far worse day than we are. That’s why we do what we do: to help wherever and whenever we can.

Your donation this Christmas can help fund 100 missions.
Together, we can make sure our teams are there for every patient who needs them.
Donate now to the Fund 100 Christmas Appeal

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