Air Ambulance Service
Why, when we are all tax payer's and we get protection and assistance from the Fire,Police and Ambulance service, why then do we have to rely on Hems helicopters being paid for by Corporate donations and charities supported by the kindness of the public.
We are led to believe that the cost of keeping one helicopter on standby could be as much as £800K per year, but from the little, and I stress what little I know about this, Hem's Heli's are provided by commercial company's, Bond or Scotia or who ever. Given that commercial companys are in business to make a profit, would it not be resonable to expect, that if the government of the day funded the purchase and maintenance of these helicopters,or incorporated the RAF SAR more than they are now, then the money raised by the fund raisers and the public, would be enhansed by the profit element being removed from the lease agreements which must exist to supply Pilots, servicing and hardware. Forgive me for banging on about this but I do think if we as a Country, the Uk that is, can supply a policeman with a car and a helicopter, then we should be able to supply the same for the Ambulance service, done in that way, it would remove the need for many people to have to worry about corporate backing running out in so many months or years, What do others think ?
[This message has been edited by Vfrpilotpb (edited 21 May 2001).]