PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Merged: Pel Air vs RFDS for the Air Ambulance contract in Australia
Old 12th Jul 2009, 12:52
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Black Maria
 
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Agree with the other posters, the B350 is a single pilot aircraft.

However the current AUS regulations have input in the crewing situation; single pilot is ok in the PVT category, but in either CHT or RPT two crew is required as the type is over 5700 kg.

So in the context of this issue it will depend (if the B350 is the typeto be used) on whether the operation is considered to be PVT or CHT.

CASA might issue pel air with a dispensation for the B350 non aid Night approaches due to >5'700 kgs's weight req's. I'm sure there is a work around the problem
Tend to think that if dispensations are given to this operator it may open a few flood gates that CASA may not want to open.

Perhaps it would be simplier to amend the regulations to modernise the weight categories so as to allow the single pilot use of the aircraft such as the B350 in single pilot CHT use. However I really don't see the wheels of progress meshing with the timeframe of the contract change.

BTW, the 350 is a great machine and (depending on operational requirments of course) does have many advantages over the 200, however these advantages need to weighed up against the disadvantages found within the current > 5700kg regulatory requirements.
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