COUNTY Air Ambulance bosses are appealing for further funding to support the charity into 2008.
The current annual fundraising target of £3.6 million - needed to operate three helicopters across the West Midlands region - is to be increased by £2 million.
The extra money will allow longer flying times, future commitment for on-board doctors and increasing operational costs.
Each time the aircraft takes to the sky, it costs the charity £24 a minute, with a flying "mission" as much as £1,500.
The charity's spokesman Steve Parry said: "We are concerned by gloomy economic forecasts, which if proved correct, could result in charitable giving being hit hard."
County Air Ambulance has traditionally been funded by public donations.
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