Bond Air Services

[HYDPUMP]

Do i read correct that the above have just lost Trinity House Services after 30 years and Essex Air Ambulance to SAS both will be using the Explorer,

Is the Explorer the machine of the future ??

Whats occuring ???

[flyingmedic]

I cant comment on the Trinity House issue but Bond don't rate the Explorer as it is unreliable, "a good idea cheaply done" is what they said to me. It's not a step up from the EC135 T2+ so why would the use it?

[Bertie Thruster]

Whats occuring ???

View from patient orientated customer:

the 902 Explorer is, simply by virtue of the configuration of its cabin space, the best place for the patient and crew out of the contenders namely the MD Explorer, the Agusta 109 Power, the Agusta 109 Grande, the EC 135 or EC145/BK117 C2.

Result:

Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance has signed up to a 10-year air ambulance package which will see the introduction of another brand new MD Explorer. The MD Explorer was re-selected following an in-depth operational and clinical assessment by the Trust of a range of currently available helicopter types.

[DeltaNg]

It will certainly be an interesting project for SAS to implement the Explorer in
Trinity operations. Much of the flying is quite specialist and there are a lot of unforeseen "gotchas" in the world of lighthouses. I hear Trinity are expecting a great deal from the Explorer with its lifting capacities and "all weather" capability.

Is it a proven offshore lifting machine which will tolerate operating at max loads for extended periods and being left outside on rainy coastal airfields/ships for days at a time? What is it like operating to and from lively small helidecks on the front and back of vessels? Is it currently used in anything similar to what Trinity do ? :\

[chcoffshore]

£153 million contract wins fuel 80 new jobs at Bond | Shephard Group (http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/3969//)

Just a bit of verification of the new contracts and aircraft.

[FloaterNorthWest]

I have also heard on the grapevine that Bond may be placing an aircraft at Blackpool to service the Barrow and Liverpool Bay windfarms.

FNW

[wallsend]

"Bond don't rate the Explorer as it is unreliable, "a good idea cheaply done" is what they said to me"

A completely unbiased opinion! :rolleyes: As for unreliable, in the past couple of years in flying both the 135 and the 902 most of my downtime has been at 135 units.

Personally I think there is little to choose between the two for downtime. I find the 902 a better HEMS platform (the best by far for UK-style HEMS ops) and certainly scores on AEO performance compared to the EC135T2. I can't comment on the T2+ as I haven't flown it. (The T1 was a great police machine bit it's being floored for night ops by regulation!)

[Helinut]

I am a bit confused. The first post and the Bond press release are saying exactly different things. It is no surprise that Bond are not operating MD902s.

Then I went to SAS's website:

Quote:

Specialist Aviation Goes Offshore

UK based operator and support organisation Specialist Aviation Services has announced the award of its new multi-year lighthouse maintenance contract with Trinity House.

Subsidiary Police Aviation Services will put a new specially equipped MD Explorer into service at the end of next year to transport technicians & equipment in support of the remote lighthouses around the English and Welsh coasts.

“We are looking to use the Explorer to exploit greater efficiencies within our lighthouse maintenance operations” says Commodore Jim Scorer, Trinity House Director of Operations.

The MD Explorer, which will replace the Bo 105’s used for over 30 years, was chosen for its load-lifting capability and the added safety of its unique NOTAR® anti-torque system which dispenses with the need for the usual tail rotor.

“This is great news for the Group as it opens up a whole range of new opportunities in the offshore industry”, explains Nigel Lemon, Sales Director for Specialist Aviation Services. “We are very much looking forward to working with Trinity House and adding this to our portfolio of Air Ambulance and Police contracts.”
End quote

So the Trinity House thing seems correct.

I would not be surprised if Bond lose the Essex contract idc, but I believe it is not up for renewal for a while.

Not only is the MD 902 a good HEMS machine. More importantly, those who influence the hire of the Essex aircraft think this. There is a bit of a SE England HEMS mafia these days.

[serf]

They have lost the Essex contract.

[vortexadminman]

The exploder (MD902) Has come of age now, parts down time etc are all reduced. As a HEMS machine it is the dogs nads, police as well for that matter All aircraft have a bit of a period pain in their shelf life,we all know that. This Ec135/145/MD902 debate is fine apart from when it gets boring and turns into companies or company pilots slagging off another aircraft type cause they don't use it. I like you all , have mates who fly 135/145/Dauphain/ MD 902 all sorts of machines and we all sit in pub saying ours is the best. God I do believe the wife now......... she says all you pilot types slag every other aircraft off ... but the one YOU fly!!!:ugh:

[helimutt]

vortex, some pilots even do that too! (slag off the machine they fly):ok:

[The Governor]

That's simply because you fly it so horribly.

[helimutt]

Hey Governor, I never said me. I love flying old crates! (thought you were the disillusioned one) Just a pity there's not a new a/c in sight whereas every other company has new technology! :ok:

On the subject of the Trinity House thing, would anyone flying for Bond on that contract be offered to move across under TUPE?

[Wizzard]

On the subject of the Trinity House thing, would anyone flying for Bond on that contract be offered to move across under TUPE?

The words Bond and TUPE should never be used together:=. Ask the Blackpool crews.

[vortexadminman]

Ok new in the game. what the **** is TUPE then?

[farsouth]

Transfers of Undertakings (TUPE)
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) preserve employees' terms and conditions when a business or undertaking, or part of one, is transferred to a new employer.

[HYDPUMP]

Correct Wizzard,

Bond and Tupe !!!! the P means poaching:=:=

[rufus.t.firefly]

Someones taking the "P" out of TUPE :ouch:

[griffothefog]

I guess if no-one goes over to the dark side from Bond, they will have to dust off Steve Bidmead's flying suit, to show them the ropes with Trinity House!! :ok:

Apologies if I have the wrong company,( but someone with previous experience of the Trinity contract will be needed at the beginning or it will be a disaster in the waiting).

Hard to believe that Bond have lost it after all this time, but good luck to the new boys, and watch out for the gotcha's like Lundy South :eek:

[HYDPUMP]

Cant beat slogging across to Guernsey with a 40kt ground speed in 105, deep joy :ugh: least the night life was ok :ok:

[helimutt]

And the pilot says it's a quiet, relaxed life, no bars, no beer and endless clear blue skies?