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NT Aeromed

Old 11th Jul 2010, 23:20
  #221 (permalink)  
 
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OR ...

The NTG is clearly giving them a trial run
or perhaps all of the tenders received are over the NTG budget hence the NTG are on the back foot scratching heads and wondering WTF to do next!!
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Old 12th Jul 2010, 00:10
  #222 (permalink)  

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Oi, Voice (G'day), how'd you become so cynical 'bout he NTG?
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Old 12th Jul 2010, 00:23
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soo what are the Pearl Airmed Pilots up to they gone across?
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Old 12th Jul 2010, 00:30
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Clarrie my dear!! LOOONG time .. better Q may be not how, but perhaps when. Or even better, why?

Last edited by The Voice; 12th Jul 2010 at 08:51.
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Old 12th Jul 2010, 08:09
  #225 (permalink)  
 
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Pindan Warrior:
Word is that the Nt Government have extended the decision date by a further 3 months
Can you possibly expand a bit on this statement? "Word is" - that's pretty general, I'm quite interested to know about the bona fides of your statement (and I mean that in a reliability sense, not an honesty sense)

pa60ops
Well its pretty simple isn`t it - you dont fly the thing if its not MEL and thats cause it will end up being AOG!!! You dont want to be sitting down with the CASA ramp guys explaining this one do you, Hmmm???
Mate (and I'm sure you know this) all over the country there are aircraft flying with defects that have not been recorded - either intentionally or otherwise. Now I'm NOT saying Careflight are doing this, but I am saying that in each and every instance it should be stopped. Hopefully (but I don't hold my breath) the "CASA ramp guys" will do that, and hopefully pilots will not participate in that sort of thing (back to my perfect world now, bye )

The Voice:
or perhaps all of the tenders received are over the NTG budget hence the NTG are on the back foot scratching heads and wondering WTF to do next!!
Ah, I've seen this before - "The Voice" appears out of nowhere, and makes a statement of great insight, that hits it right on the head! (In my opinion anyway)
Perhaps others have thought it, and he's the first to post it!

CR
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Old 12th Jul 2010, 13:17
  #226 (permalink)  
 
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Word is that the Nt Government have extended the decision date by a further 3 months
The NT government (actually DHF, Department of Health and Families) have written to all the bidders, advising them that there will be a further three month delay.

The NTG is clearly giving them a trial run
Extremely unlikely. So if they don't like them, do they install someone else and give them a three month trial as well?

The far more likely explanation for the delay would have to be along the lines proposed by The Voice. That is, that everybody's bids are way more than what the NTG had earmarked.

Can the NTG afford 4-5 new King Airs (or PC-12s)? No way. Given the (tiny) size of the NT economy, about 1 new turboprop would be all they could afford!

To me, it seems highly plausible that the reason for the delay up to now, (and this extension to the delay) is because the NTG is waiting for an answer from the federal government on funding assistance.

The federal government has just "changed", as we all know, and now there is an election in the wings. How else do you explain that the NTG somehow knows that this decision will take a further three months?

soo what are the Pearl Airmed Pilots up to they gone across?
Some have gone across (about 3-4, I believe). The majority haven't.
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 20:04
  #227 (permalink)  
 
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Fifty
If there is single grain of truth in delaying the tender for 3 months, it becomes clear that Careflight is the winner. The NTG is clearly giving them a trial run.
Not so sure about that one. Given we are looking at a federal election some time soon, any small swing in government in the NT could prove most advantageous to one particular operator in the arena. If this is correct, the longer this process takes the better (for them), and then we may well see who is in who's pockets and just who is touching their toes

DD
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 06:52
  #228 (permalink)  
 
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after following this thread for a while now I have come to the knowlegde alot of people have different opinions on everything which is what makes aviation so much fun!
The extension of the trial is probably the NTG shock at how much it actually costs to operate 4 new or revised nearly new aircraft.
Years ago when the now ex contrator to the government went in and said these aircraft are old and we highly recommend new/newer airframes with newer avionincs the NTG went we can't afford that!
What sthe next best thing????
The NT has some of the worst weather conditions in OZ a lot of unprepared strips and alot of icing conditions just have a look at the fuseales of the now defunct airframes. Aircraft get used and abused day in and day out.
the aircraft were sent in to what I recall a 'D' check but as the first a/c ate away a fair chunk of the budget and also the available down time to do all the mods the work packages were scaled down. I mean the depth of the work required was lowered, They did a good job for the time and resources given.
The biggest problem they had with the aircraft was the avionics, old wiring, and hard to get spares stuff that you just can't have sitting there all the time. Even if you had 1 sometimes you needed 4, thats just the way the game goes.
To hear the current operator doesn't even have an MEL how are they operating?
mind you aircon, pressurisation and wx are all groundable defects regardless of MEL or not.
But hey lets not forget why the contract was removed from the contractor failure to fly in and out of Katherine with a wallaby issue, how many people have hit someting of that size before?
It's not a nice feeling imagine hitting one on t/o or landing, i have seen the damage done by such an animal and larger on a king air and lets just say they both lost! The a/c does fly again but...
We all want to play with new and modern a/c and peoples passions are always great to see. It pleases me to know that the great Aussie rivalary goes far beyond the holden ford arguement!
Aeroplanes cost millions of dollars both in there standard fitout and as aeromed aircraft go in there highly modified status.
Who wants to spend millions of dollars on something that the client doesn't want to pay for.
In business they teach you many things don't over capitalise never do anything the customer doesnt want, and always try to over achieve with the resources you have. Make the customer happy but rememebr not to send yourself broke doing it.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 07:39
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But hey lets not forget why the contract was removed from the contractor failure to fly in and out of Katherine with a wallaby issue, how many people have hit someting of that size before?
Are you having a lend or do you truly believe this?
Serious question.

The general public misunderstands the whole situation regarding the wallaby plague.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 10:58
  #230 (permalink)  
 
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What a lot of people don't realise is that the ex contractor's hands were tied. Their insurance company refused to cover the aircraft flown into the strip unless the Wallaby situation was resolved.

Added to this was the flying rate was far in excess of the contracted rate. This added to the fact that the NTG would only cough up for the cheap plane option spelt disaster.

Clearly the NTG has a lot to answer for in this whole fight. But what is the best defence? offence of course, make it seem that all the problems were that of the contractor and its aircraft.
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Old 15th Jul 2010, 11:43
  #231 (permalink)  
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Fact is this is an expensive game. If they want to do it properly with a view to the long term viability and cost savings then new airframes with consecutive serial numbers are the go. You can fly them hard for at least 12 years and drag them out for a few more if need be. Not to mention in this day and age the treveling public, who are paying the bills, expect a decent level of service and quality for their money.

When you start with used airframes you invariably get differences in equipment which creates stores costs and they are half worn out before you start. Add to this the cost of finding and checking them out, forget it. New is the go.
SN
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Old 15th Jul 2010, 13:00
  #232 (permalink)  
 
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Maxgrad:
The general public misunderstands the whole situation regarding the wallaby plague.
I'll see you that and raise you one!!

The general public misunderstands the whole situation regarding the wallaby plague - because they are fed sh!t by the likes of the NT News, who in turn are fed sh!t by the Government who when it comes to spin make Shane Warne look like Trevor Chappell!

Why? Read Tric's post above - it's RIGHT ON THE MONEY ('scuse the pun!)

CR
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Old 27th Aug 2010, 23:48
  #233 (permalink)  
 
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what's new then?

so, here we are, 59 days sans NT Airmed as we knew it.

What's been happening then? I'll bet it hasn't been all smooth and happy flying. I'll even bet there's a certain association that MAY just be a tad more unhappy with the present 'service', let alone the staff at some remote communities that may just want to take back some of the criticism shovelled out at former staff ..

NO decision yet I see on the lucky preferred tenderer ..

BUT - lo and behold advertising by Careflight for staff - fixed wing drivers, nurses, logistics and admin staff - all on contract now until end of June 2011 (or longer - as per the add) ..

now, a cynic would say - "There's a surprise!"
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Old 28th Aug 2010, 11:46
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Word is that CareFlight have (again) been knocked back for their AOC variation to include Kingair by CASA and are having to fully subcontract the owners of the aircraft, Austrasian Jet, to operate the service.
That will interest local aviation companies who are still owed a lot of money from the last time Ausjet were based in Darwin.
The myriad of snippets about mishaps and people dieing is growing into a really sad tale.
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Old 28th Aug 2010, 12:30
  #235 (permalink)  
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Rumour network I realise..... the word I am getting from the hangar floor is that all is going incredibly well.
Perhaps the engineers are getting better versed in the art of spin these days.
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Old 29th Aug 2010, 11:40
  #236 (permalink)  
 
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the word I am getting from the hangar floor ...
Hangar? What hangar?
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Old 29th Aug 2010, 13:34
  #237 (permalink)  
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sorry pilot forum.....your doing things a little different,- hangar.




The Careflight operation in Darwin.
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Old 30th Aug 2010, 11:44
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baron_beeza,

There was nothing wrong with your spelling. My comment was sarcastically pointing out that there is no hangar.

We obviously have different sources. Mine says they're doing it tough.

Gove base has been without its plane for 4-5 days now (due breakdowns of other aircraft). This would *never* have happened during the Pearl years.
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Old 30th Aug 2010, 14:24
  #239 (permalink)  

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Hanger didn't look quite right so I had to consult the AOED.
  • Hanger: a person or thing that hangs.
  • Hangar: a building with extensive floor area, for housing aircraft etc.

Last edited by Capt Claret; 30th Aug 2010 at 16:47. Reason: list formatting
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Old 30th Aug 2010, 20:09
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See Clarrie.. you DID know that..
That's why you had doubts about that 'e'..

(Some things just STAY in them ole brain cells....)
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