If this one is still rumbling it is of interest to note that Trident seems to think 5 operators in total were invited to tender for this so called contract, my inside info tells me different, 4 Companies in total one of which had one R44 to there name and no real exoperience and has since gone bust, another was Elite, Atlasand one other ?. As for the 3 year contract, if you get hold of a copy of the Tender Letter you will note that it specifies for the 2005 events only, no mention whatsoever of 3 years, so where did that come from. That is fact and as such maybe Elite ought to be getting their act together, and other operators come to that, and requesting to be on the Tender List for 2006.
Rumour has it that no matter what anyone else bid the deal was done, and thats from the mouth of a Goodwood Employee.
