Name: Cowal u3a - January General Meeting
Start: 2026-01-27T14:00:00+00:00
Location: Dunoon Burgh Hall

Damien Lloyd Payne is a Sandbank resident who has spent 25 years flying helicopters in the United States before retiring to Cowal in 2024. During his career, he has flown many different types of helicopters on many different missions, most recently for Christiana Care in Delaware, where he flew medical helicopters including the H145 widely used in the UK for medical transport.
Damien now occupies his time volunteering for various groups including Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance. He will be talking to us about the vital service that SCAA provides, with a focus not just on the crew, equipment and missions, but also on how anyone can help SCAA make a difference.
At Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), the mission is simple: to ensure that no one in Scotland suffers or dies because medical help can’t get there in time. Their life-saving service is especially vital in Scotland’s most remote and rural areas like the Cowal Peninsula. SCAA’s ability to reach those in need, no matter how far away, ensures that critical time isn’t lost.
But SCAA can’t do it alone. As a charity air ambulance, SCAA is entirely funded by the generosity of the Scottish public. Without that support, they wouldn’t be able to save lives across the country. Every donation helps keep them flying, responding to emergencies, and making sure that help is always within reach. Damian will be telling us more about SCAA and examples of its vital work.
Whether you’re an existing member of Cowal u3a or if you’re just interested in becoming a member, please come along. We ask for a voluntary donation of £2 towards venue costs.