Statement from the MCA and CHC
CHC are saying that the main points are that:
there is no issue with regard to the service as there is a contingency aircraft in place
the crew have not refused to fly at night - and it is completely inaccurate to suggest that
CHC instigated the technical and operational review, listened to its crew and pro-actively made the decision to withdraw the AW139 from night time service
A spokesperson for CHC said: "Safety is absolutely paramount to CHC. Following routine technical and operational reviews, our crew raised the issue that a restriction of certain sepcialist search and rescue technical equipment on the AW139 could pose difficulties during night time operations. CHC is working with the manufacturer to address, as a matter of urgency, these issues and, as a contingency measure, is deploying another search and rescue aircraft from its wider fleet to cover night time operations until the issue with the AW139s is fully remedied."
AS part of its contract witht the MCA, CHC operates three AW139 search and rescue helicopters from MCA bases at Lee-on-Solent and Portland. The two aircraft at Lee-on-Solent operate on a 24 hour basis while the aircraft at Portland operates on a 12 hour (9am until 9pm) basis only.
The MCA are saying...
"The MCA contractor responsible for providing coastguard SAR helicopters has restricted night time flying of the AW139 aircraft at Lee on Solent and Portland due to issues around the operation of some of the specialist equipment which are awaiting resolution by the manufacturer.
"Arrangements are being made for additional helicopters with a full night time capability to be stationed at Lee on Solent while these problems are being resolved.
"The AW139s are entirely safe to operate for all daytime and non-specialist nighttime activities. The issues relate to specialist search and rescue activity, such as night time search and rescue. Daytime flying is unaffected. Search and Rescue missions will continue to be effectively undertaken by the AW139s during daylight hours."
The MCA have also issued the following answers to actual and expected questions raised:-
1. How long have you known about this technical difficulty?
The MCA were informed of the full extent of the issues on the morning of 10th October following a series safety meetings between the aircrew and CHC flight safety manager
2. Why has nothing been done about this before?
Action was taken as soon as the full extent of the issues were known
3. When did this technical breakdown happen?
The aircraft were not delivered to the MCA as contracted. The MCA has been working hard with the service provider to rectify the issues
4. How long before it's sorted out?
We expect the modifications to the aircraft to be in place in December, with the crews fully trained by March 2009
5. How are the coastguard going to perform night-time search and rescue without these helicopters?
The transition aircraft are being brought in to cover the night shift from Lee-on-the-Solent
6. Why don't you use S92s for all your SAR cover?
The AW139s are used on the south coast in line with the operational requirement where the majority of jobs are close to the coast and are to rescue a small number of people.
7. What penalties are you going to impose on CHC?
An incentivisation scheme is in place with CHC which allows for deductions to be made for non-performance, which will be used in this respect [avoid the use of penalisation as this is against DfT/Treasury guidance]
8. Are you going to end the contract with CHC?
CHC are contracted to provide the service until 2012. We have no plans to end the contract before this. Should the problems escalate and progress is not forthcoming we will be seeking measures under the force majure conditions which allow, as a last resort, the termination of the contract.
9. Are lives at risk?
The service will continue to be provided in a professional, safe way without compromising the life saving capability of the UK SAR service.