Hmmmm let me see 2 posts in your entire pprune career. And you're so lazy you just copy pasted the first one. Well done!

I am one of those people who only post when there is something to be said! I fly with Loganair when I can but have to fly Highland sometimes. I may not have posted often but are the point I have made not valid?

Can you name another airline that refused to use an ambulift (no weather issues) and takes the patient out to the aircraft in a rusty wheelchair covered in bird excrament? Since been replaced I believe as a result of numerous complaints from health authorities, but did it really need to get to that stage.

I flew back with the same woman the next day and only after much complaining by her family was something done about it. It is a sad day when it takes someone to complain to help a struggling 80+ cancer patient onto an aircraft.

As for the lazy comment I resent that! I was on a rant and wanted to see what the franchise partner readers had to say afterall the Flybe thread is much bigger than this one.

The Jetstream 31 cannot accomodate an Ambulift by way of access door / steps design. When I flew this aircraft (not with Highland Airways), wheelchair passengers were unfortunately denied travel. This was always made clear at the time of booking. Before anyone jumps on the wagon of discrimination, the policy was accepted by the CAA and airports from which we operated.

Too often we see passengers booked on flights who do not declare pertinent disabilities prior to checking in. I once gave in to a paralysed passenger who politely insisted on being allowed travel on a J31 flight. Despite the crew's best efforts to assist the gentleman on board, the narrow rear galley precluded this and he had to crawl unassisted from the step along to his seat. On this occasion I broke several rules and left myself wide open to prosecution should we have had to evacuate. In hindsight I would now stand firm in denying travel for this very reason.

The Jetstream can use an ambulift, and I used to use one almost daily in Highland. However, on the western isles, the service is provided by HIAL's fire service, not Highland Airways. They have some very strict rules about when the ambulift can be used, which, if I recall is no more than 15kts of wind. Try and find a day with less wind than that in BEB or SYY and you begin to see the problem.
The health board and local doctors have no idea when booking pax on travel for hospital. How are you supposed to board pax who weighed well in excess of 130 kgs, only have with one leg, are blind and completely immobile. I don't think that a Saab crew would have an better luck that the HWY crew.

Personally, I would be deny boarding to any pax who could not carry themselves from the ambulift to their seat, or if it was too windy for the ambulift and they could not climb the steps unaided. It's not the ground or flight crews job to physically manhandle pax into the aircraft. If they need that level of assitance, then get them on the air ambulance or send them by road. Its safer for all involved.

From talking to the family air ambulance travel was denied and the ambulift was used when disembarking on the return leg when the weather was similar. She has been travelling by air ambulance since the incident. The pax was able to move from lift to seat but she was not told about the step in the middle of the plane and tripped.

I don't really know what you mean by not their responsibility. It clearly states on the website of most airlines that assisted boarding is available. If you ask for it and it is granted surely then they are responsible?

Special handling of disabled passengers at the airport is the responsibility of the airport owner under European Regulation 1107/2006. If you don't think the procedures put in place are appropriate or compliant please take it up with the airport operator rather than attributing this to any of the airlines who operate through there. The same goes if you don't like the car parking charges or anything else about the airport facilities.

If the health authorities are booking space on aircraft which are inadequate for the condition of patients, cannot dock to the ambulift, etc then that is something to take up with the health authorites, to ensure that they book space on or charter aircraft of adequate capability rather than the cheapest option and hoping the poor crews will somehow work it out on the day.

HA Staff in Syy do not possess a pair of binoculars - stop making things up.
Had one been requested and it was serviceable it would have been used. Staff do not 'refuse' to help passengers.
If this is true PM me the date it happened. I don't recall this happening but will check. In 4 years of operating the route it has never happened to me so I would say it's a very infrequent occurence.

You seem to have it in for Hwy for some reason. I don't care, anyone who sees a one post wonder disregards them anyway. However I will not watch you denegrate or call in to doubt the commitment of our staff out West. To a man they are excellent, and often go beyond the call of duty assisting pax who quite frankly should be on a stretcher in the back of a King Air.

Mind you I doubt very much you've ever seen the inside of a Jetstream never mind actually travelled with us. :mad:

How did you get the ambulift ramp to fit against the cabin floor of a J31? The check strap and handrail of the door were always in the way as far as I can remember?

They have a extension which tapers which fits quite nicely between the door sides and avoids the rails.

The extensions are present on the SYY lift which is the self propelled van and Ben which is the trailer version operated by the fire men.

If you want a look at one there is one fitted to the ambulift trailer parked beside the fire station in Inverness.

To be honest HWY must shift 100's of NHS patent's between the Islands and all the pilots get to know the regulars pretty well. And certainly getting called love or your first name by the pax is the norm while boarding. And long may it continue for the guys who continue to fly the route. I must admit I had a bit of dust in my eye when the blind lady with leukaemia from BEN passed on.

Also you seem to forget the staff on the ground have lived on the islands for years and know virtually all the locals since they were children. Which does produce some amusing conversations when ID is requested "What do you want that for hen, I used to change your nappy"

As for tripping over the main spar unfortunately its an on going problem with the J31/32 series I think every operator of them has had issues with people who trip on them even after being warned verbally, a high viz cover being placed over it and a warning light on the cabin ceiling telling you it's there. I can't really see how a ambulift pax would get that far up the aircraft as they were normally seated in the second back double.

As for the state of the ambi seats they were all replaced about 3 years ago.

Is this a bitter and twisted poke at highland because the Heath Board have refused the King Air for transfer?

Your really must tell us the date and sector which this event occurred on. The posters that have replied to you from Highland are either ex Captains or Current ones stretching back over 4 years of operation of that route. Between us we have several thousand flights on that route. If an incident had occurred we would either have been involved or received paper work informing us of the event.

And re-reading your post I see the family have got their wish of the King Air transfer, good for them. But next time you sit down to read the newspaper and think the weather is blowing a gale and you can only see 750 meters down the road. The HWY pilots brought that newspaper to you and for all its faults the Jetstream is a superb ship for dealing with everything the west coast of scotland can throw at it.

well said that man. Bl00dy good aircraft the Jetstream for flying when the high wingers are checking their X wind limits:ok:

Nice one mad_jock. I have always been very impressed with the service, and I can't imagine where ifu090556 is coming from, except perhaps the competition.

Oaki seems to be on the west lately :ok:

Shes a bit Phat with the autopilot though

I thought some would like to see a couple of different faces of the western isle route which was filmed by one of the other Pilots.

What's happening with the contract in Finland at the moment. Has it been temporarily suspended for a while as it doesn't seem to have been flying for a while. Looking on Lappeenranta's booking system, flight's seem to start again mid-way through August? Are they waiting for G-EDAY to be ready for service? Seems to have been in INV for a while
Also, seems like G-NOSS is operating for Highland now, was on the mail contract this week in Scotland. Has this got a similar coat of paint to FARA or is it still in Coast Air's livery?

Regards
Sam

Is Highland Airways in trouble?
 

Is Highland Airways having technical difficulties with the website or does it signify something more serious?

Rumor has it that staff are being tolds whats happening tomorrow :confused:

Are flights still operating?

I tried the website too and it says 'sorry flight full' to all flights as far ahead as you can book. Technical problem or...?

The note on their website says:

"Sorry! we are currently unable to take any bookings ... please bear with us whilst we resolve technical difficulties."

Meeting called for 9am this morning............