Please don't even think of it, at least not until you've looked at the total and unmitigated disaster that NPAS became. Oh, the concept was a great idea!
Take 27 Different forces operating some 33 aircraft, move them around a bit in order to give better cover, standardise the training, bring maintenance into one supplier thus gaining on economies of scale etc. Standardise aircraft types, and Insurance cover. Bring in direct employment of a pool of Pilots on a National contract. Establish National Policies etc. Regionalise control rooms, and operate on a Regional basis. The main objective being to maximise efficiency etc. -- Simple? No --Not One bit of it!
The only aim of NPAS as established, was to save money right from the start. No interest in increasing efficiency and effectiveness. But immediately close 50% of the bases, - plus a similar reduction in aircraft. Effectiveness was lost immediately because you had maximised the distances that aircraft had to fly. Instead of increasing the effectiveness of control they they opted for control on a National basis instead of a more efficient Regional Control system. This resulted in confusion and a downturn in morale. But critically they chose to Ignore the whole concept of reducing crime and an increasing the arrests of Criminals!
Oh yes NPAS was not a roaring success! Indeed it became a laughing stock!
So to those who propose the concept of a National Air Ambulance service I say , look at the tragedy of NPAS, learn from it and do not enter into the idea, unless your intention is to genuinely improve the availability of the service and not to just save money! I suppose If nothing else they at least you will have a a good model of how NOT to do it!
TF
Last edited by tigerfish; 2nd Nov 2018 at 01:18.
Reason: clarification