No Charter A/C available then.....

[WasNaeMe]

"A baby being treated in Swansea which needed specialist neo-natal care has been flown for treatment from south Wales to Scotland by the RAF.
An RAF Hercules touched down at Cardiff airport carrying a medical team from Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.
The hospital is one of four in the UK with a heart-and-lung incubator.
A spokesperson for Swansea NHS Trust said: "A baby's life is always valuable and all the stops were pulled to make sure this one makes it."
The four-engined aircraft, used to ferry troops and equipment to forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, landed with a specialist incubator for the sick child.
The mission was to move the baby from Singleton Hospital in Swansea to the Glasgow children's unit and the heart-and-lung bypass equipment.
Airport passengers saw the ambulance arrive and the baby taken on board the Hercules.
Journey
An onlooker at the airport said: "I've never seen an RAF aeroplane land on a civilian runway.
"It was quite a shock. Then an ambulance pulled up and paramedics jumped in with what looked like a special incubator.
"It caused quite a stir in the departure lounge. That baby must be in serious trouble to merit this kind of attention."
An RAF spokesman said: "It was an unusual mission to fly a medical team on this type of operation.
"We quite often fly patients to hospitals but in this case it was decided it was more suitable to bring the team from the children's hospital in Glasgow to Cardiff airport."
The Hercules left RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire to fly to Glasgow where the team and equipment were flown on the 90-minute journey to Cardiff.
Huw Williams, Swansea NHS Trust Divisional General Manager for Women and Children's Services, said: "There are only four ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machines in the UK, three in England and one in Scotland. There isn't one in Wales.
"The three English ECMO machines were not available so a decision was taken to fly the baby to Scotland."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6089572.stm

[ORAC]

An onlooker at the airport said: "I've never seen an RAF aeroplane land on a civilian runway. "It was quite a shock. :ugh: :ugh:

[airborne_artist]

An onlooker at the airport said: "I've never seen an RAF aeroplane land on a civilian runway. "It was quite a shock.

Bet the crew needed special training for that. Those RAF runways are completely different. Look at the problems they had at Robin Hood Intl - the civvy pilots took ages to get the hang of using former RAF runways.

[Pontius Navigator]

and will the costs lie where they fall?

[WasNaeMe]

Interesting Ad under my details just now.........


Oops it's gone now.... Was advertising Air Ambulance outfits...



:hmm:

[charliegolf]

WNM

Your title suggests disapproval? After 'utterlty, utterlygate', the positive press won't harm the RAF, though I doubt that the persons doing the auth'ing were quite that cynical.

As for pressure on crews/overstretch etc, I don't believe any of them felt put upon in transferring a baby to a specialist unit.

Pontius: isn't the whole shooting match already paid for? By me and one or two others, through taxes.

CG

who's clearly missing something here.

[Maple 01]

Budgets CG, budgets.

In the pre-budget holding days you could safely go for the old 'all paid for by taxes' line, therefore no bills for payment/services provided even when it was unexpected or short notice tasking. Nowadays as HMF are only (under) budgeted to perform certain tasks anything outside that must be paid for by the tasker.

Unfortunately, in a move that could only have been inspired by accountants, government agencies pay the admin costs to shuffle around virtual money that eventually comes out of the same financial pot anyway

That's my understanding anyway

[Blodwyn Pig]

i'm just wondering why they didn't land at swansea airport, singleton hospital is that side of town, so it would have been a 4 or 5 mile ambulance journey instead of a 60 mile journey.

[Mr-AEO]

This is a good news story, right?

Or am I missing something. We used a 'STATE' asset to save a baby's life - well done RAF for a job nicely done. And to land at a Civvy airfield to remind them that this is what the services who risks their lives for you abroad actually look like!

So what! for the costs this is good PR and saving lives, more I say!:D

[WasNaeMe]

CG

Disapproval????….of the transporting a seriously sick child…… Don’t think so and I resent your inference.
A seriously sick child should have all the stops pulled out for it.


WRT the crew, who mentioned ‘any of them felt put upon’??


But as you elude to it, yes, after all the recent comment on here about overstretch of the AT world etc …. I would have thought an Air Ambulance or Charter would have been more appropriate, maybe even quicker than a C130. I find it hard to believe that there is no capacity in the civilian world for such flights.


who's clearly missing something here???

[RileyDove]

In the bigger scheme of things the cost of flying from Scotland to Swansea in a Hercules isn't even on the richter scale compared to the cost or our military operations in the east!

[oldfella]

Are we turning into a bunch of cynics? A crew is sent on a mercy mission in order to save a baby and this generates cries of "Who is picking up the bill" "Couldn't someone else have been used"etc. Call me out for this sort of task, at oh christ almighty am, even if not on standby, and I'll be there and worry about the admin later.

Might it have been a Hercules because it is easier to load equipment over the ramp? Might it have been because the Hercules has various power outlets, including an iron lung outlet?

Let's just be thankful that the job was done.

[Wader2]

Are we turning into a bunch of cynics? A crew is sent on a mercy mission in order to save a baby and this generates cries of "Who is picking up the bill"

And another fish is hauled out of the sea.

Cynic is the true word.

As Maple 1 says Unfortunately, in a move that could only have been inspired by accountants, government agencies pay the admin costs to shuffle around virtual money that eventually comes out of the same financial pot anyway

During Op Fresco the ODPM was billed for everything from CD Players, kettles, toasters, to subsistence and accommodation.

The Execs are keen to outload as much of any additional costs from the Defence budget and onto another department as possible. It is not entirely new. In the kipper fleet, if we had the odd half-hour, we used to log fisheries or oil rig surveillance aand bill the Dept for Energy (or whatever) and MAFF.

Long gone are the days when we could do a favour for 'free' now someone is there with apen and paper to write out an invoice.

[monkeybumhead]

A big well done to all involved. In the past I've been involved in the generation of a frame to do something similar, and can say I didn't mind the extra work one bit.

[BEagle]

Lyneham to Glasgow to Swansea to Lyneham?

Sounds like a useful MCT trip - just add a few minutes for the onload/offload of the medical team.... Probably all achieved within the available training budget, but more importantly it achieved a lot more than endless NDB holds over Wooty B.

Not in the same league, but even on the old FunBus we occasionally managed to do things on training trips which wouldn't have been possible otherwise - such as an airways training trip for a brace of co-piglets to Paderborn and back to drop off a medical team, for example. Much better value than droning round a triangular route and back to Brize to do the pilot change - because for once we did something useful!

[modtinbasher]

and will the costs lie where they fall?

Take it out of B liars paycheck, or even better, take it out of Pontious Prezza's, at least they would have something tangible to apportion their extra allowances to...

[Always a Sapper]

"A baby being treated in Swansea which needed specialist neo-natal care has been flown for treatment from south Wales to Scotland by the RAF.
An RAF Hercules touched down at Cardiff airport carrying a medical team from Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.
The hospital is one of four in the UK with a heart-and-lung incubator.
A spokesperson for Swansea NHS Trust said: "A baby's life is always valuable and all the stops were pulled to make sure this one makes it."
The four-engined aircraft, used to ferry troops and equipment to forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, landed with a specialist incubator for the sick child.
The mission was to move the baby from Singleton Hospital in Swansea to the Glasgow children's unit and the heart-and-lung bypass equipment.
Airport passengers saw the ambulance arrive and the baby taken on board the Hercules.
Journey
An onlooker at the airport said: "I've never seen an RAF aeroplane land on a civilian runway.
"It was quite a shock. Then an ambulance pulled up and paramedics jumped in with what looked like a special incubator.
"It caused quite a stir in the departure lounge. That baby must be in serious trouble to merit this kind of attention."
An RAF spokesman said: "It was an unusual mission to fly a medical team on this type of operation.
"We quite often fly patients to hospitals but in this case it was decided it was more suitable to bring the team from the children's hospital in Glasgow to Cardiff airport."
The Hercules left RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire to fly to Glasgow where the team and equipment were flown on the 90-minute journey to Cardiff.
Huw Williams, Swansea NHS Trust Divisional General Manager for Women and Children's Services, said: "There are only four ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machines in the UK, three in England and one in Scotland. There isn't one in Wales.
"The three English ECMO machines were not available so a decision was taken to fly the baby to Scotland."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6089572.stm


And the problem is???? ..... A BIG Well done to all involved... :ok:

The only problem I can see is the reason for the flight in the first place.... why ise'nt there a Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Machine in Wales? or arent they important enough to our great leader and his outstanding Health Service Minister......

[tonkatechie]

At the risk of adding fuel to certain people's fire, the Scottish Ambulance service have 2 King Air 'ambulance aircraft' that can ferry patients around (I've worked with one of them). See http://www.scottishambulance.com/helpoffered/airwing.asp for details.
Whether they could have been used is irrelevant however - we had the capability, and evidently the airframe available, so the job was done. Personally, I think this should be seen as a P.R. coup, and used as such - it certainly looks better than 9 hawks spewing a load of smoke out all over the sky... (no offence intended)

[Pontius Navigator]

OTOH I do not recall seeing anything on MOD Net

[Max Contingency]

King Air cant carry a full ECMO team or the DAC that they use.

No loss costs are recovered from the Health Authority requesting the transfer.

A job well done Albert:)


Always a Sapper - You are absolutely correct.........................................the Welsh are not important.

[Faithless]

Im not a crab but big hand of respect to the Herc crew. At the end of the day ,we (the Forces) need all the support we can get at the mo. Its nice to see the press covering a happy story instead of some sh1te like Paras eat Iraqie civies waiting at a bus stop.

Well done the crabs:D :D :D :D :D

[Always a Sapper]

Well done again, but have you ever wondered just where these Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Machine things are?

For what it’s worth… There are four ECMO centres in the UK, these are:

Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP
MP: Patricia Hewitt MP (Lab)
The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, NE7 7DN
MP: Nick Brown MP (Lab)
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, G3 8SJ
MP: Mohammad Sarwar MP (Lab)
Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 3JH
MP: Frank Dobson MP (Lab)


Anyone spot a pattern???

[Archimedes]

For what it’s worth… There are four ECMO centres in the UK, these are:

Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP
MP: Patricia Hewitt MP (Lab)
The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, NE7 7DN
MP: Nick Brown MP (Lab)
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, G3 8SJ
MP: Nick Brown MP (Lab)
Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 3JH
MP: Nick Brown MP (Lab)


Anyone spot a pattern???
That being called Nick Brown is an advantage if seeking election as a Labour MP? :}

[Faithless]

Anyone spot a pattern???[/quote]


:8 Yeap , Yeap ...they are all kids Hospitals, right.:}

[Tired Old Man]

Quote from BBC news article,RAF Hercules transports sick baby.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6089572.stm

More proof that our NHS Service and UK armed forces are brilliant.:ok:

[movadinkampa747]

Anyone spot a pattern???


:8 Yeap , Yeap ...they are all kids Hospitals, right.:}[/QUOTE]


The Freeman isnt. But as for the pattern they all have the word Hospital in the title.

[Maple 01]

eerrrr.......they are all in major conurbations?

[Aynayda Pizaqvick]

Not that it is a p!ssing contest but I saw them in civvy airports in 3 different continents even before I joined. Me thinks they need to get out more!

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

Civilian runway? I've seen 'em land on a civilian motorway :8 :ok:



10 points for anyone who guesses which one

[k3k3]

Jaguar on the M62?

[spekesoftly]

A Jaguar GR Mk1, piloted by BAC Test Pilot Tim Ferguson, used the M55 for a demonstration take-off and landing, just before the motorway opened in the Summer of 1975.

[Pontius Navigator]

On the thread title I don't believe I have see one land on a civilian runway either. Have done a number of touch and goes and landed at Prestwich a few time but not seen one land :}

[Faithless]

:8 Yeap , Yeap ...they are all kids Hospitals, right.:}


The Freeman isnt. But as for the pattern they all have the word Hospital in the title.[/quote]


Bugger me's fort i were cleva. :8

[Jimlad1]

"
A Jaguar GR Mk1, piloted by BAC Test Pilot Tim Ferguson, used the M55 for a demonstration take-off and landing, just before the motorway opened in the Summer of 1975."

Useless trivial fact - when the US Interstate system was built in the 60's, 1 mile in every few was built dead straight to allow it to be used as an emergency landing ground for US Air Defence assets in the event of war.

[Lancelot37]

On the thread title I don't believe I have see one land on a civilian runway either. :}

It's quite normal for RAF Tornado's to land at Teesside Airport in emergencey when they can't make it back to base. We were sat at the next table to Navigator John Nichols (of Gulf War fame) in the restaurant many years ago when his Tornado put down with a technical fault.

There is currently a Sea King helicopter on the village green at Marske on Sea, nr Redcar. It's been there almost a week as engineers try to repair it.
Belongs to 202 Squadron Search & Rescue from RAF Boulmer. The locals keep the engineers supplied with chip butties and tea.

[spekesoftly]

Have done a number of touch and goes and landed at Prestwich a few time .......:}

Doubtless the townsfolk of Prestwich were mighty impressed, not realising that they had a runway - military or civilian.:}

[BANANASBANANAS]

Does Shiny Ten Sqn count? Four landings a week into Washington Dulles when I was on the Sqn in the 1980's.:rolleyes:

[C130 Techie]

To those knocking this, I hope you or yours never need this kind of help in an emergency situation.

This is another example of the excellent work that the AT/SAR crews and supporting staff do day in day out both at home and abroad. Well done to all involved.:ok:

I am fairly sure that had an alternative been available it would have been used. As BEagle suggests it probably fits in as a useful training flight.

As to the cost, who cares, the most important thing is that a life was saved. Let the bean counters fight it out at their leisure.

[hobie]

You couldn't buy the "Good Publicity" this type of operation gives the RAF .....

It get's my vote .... :ok:

[kitwe]

Glasgow Airport has RAF aircraft based there (UAS) and has done for many years.

[Bob Stinger]

Blackpool . the RAF are in and out all the time, several aircraft a week.

[Razor61]

Exeter used to be quite busy with ins and outs....not so much nowadays though.

[Taffer]

Glasgow Airport has RAF aircraft based there (UAS) and has done for many years.
I think VT Aerospace might get upset if you call their civvy-registered Grobs RAF aircraft - they're only leased to the Crabs. :E

When I was working at GLA though, I saw RAF and RN Sea Kings, Army Lynx and Gazelles, USN C-130s and a lot more.

Not uncommon to see mil. aircraft at GLA at all, though the only time most people are at the airport is when they're off to Shagaluf or wherever it is the plebs holiday these days. You're unlikely to spot a mil. aircraft when you're sitting in the departure lounge after consuming a keg of Stella.

[Pontius Navigator]

PN, I think you'll find that Prestwick qualifies as a civilian runway.

OK, Prestwick. But I did say I had never seen one land there. Back of a Vulcan or Nimrod you do not see one landing.

BTW, I remember when we sent a Shackleton to Glasgow; it parked next to a Loftleider on the ramp to allow a crewman to be flown to Iceland.

We also took a Shackleton into Aberdeen one dark and snowy night; now that was a right royal brain box CU. AOC asked the next day what we were doing there; why hadn't we gone to Wattisham or somewhere sensible.

[charliegolf]

But if you're one of the 45 million odd sods who don't think aeroplanes are the most important thing in life; and only go to two airports a year, you're not gonna see many of any kind of aeroplane land. I suppose?

CG

[Roadster280]

Does Shiny Ten Sqn count? Four landings a week into Washington Dulles when I was on the Sqn in the 1980's.:rolleyes:

IAD is a Luftwaffe station. I kid you not! Often see Erich Airbus there, and they have an office/warehouse complex, c/w German flag and diagonally striped sentry box of WW2 fame.

Odd RAF Albert there too.

[Hard Port]

As one of the air ambulance pilots based in GLA, I would like to set the record straight and correct a few pieces of wrong reporting. The baby's condition was very poor and needed urgent treatment. The Glasgow based King Air became unserviceable just after loading the incubator and medical team - yes we can carry the incubator and 4 medical staff, although there is a fuel penalty.
As the second King Air was already tasked and unavailable, the MOD was asked to help. Thus, due to the weather mostly, a Herc was assigned as it was available earlier than the second King Air.
The team were recovered later using the air ambulance King Air. Glad our unsereviceability provided much needed PR for the RAF. HP

[4fitter]

HP - thank you for setting the record straight.

Lets see, C130 into Glasgow, Teeside, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, E Midlands.
HS125 into Southampton
Tri * into LHR
All landings and not T&Gs.

Regards 4f

[Colonal Mustard]

i'm just wondering why they didn't land at swansea airport, singleton hospital is that side of town, so it would have been a 4 or 5 mile ambulance journey instead of a 60 mile journey.


Maybe they needed Fuel, whenever i needed to fly into swansea i generally found they didnt have any.. this must have changed since then though.:eek:

[vecvechookattack]

Surely this sortie would have been approved as a "Medevac" and therefore the MOD wouldn't have paid for it. I suppose at the end of the day the Government pays for it and which department gets the bill is an elephant but regardless, job well done boys

[Nige321]

Bump...
Update here... (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6168878.stm)
Well done everyone!:D
N

[hobie]

An RAF spokesman said it had been an unusual mission.

"It went without hitch and we are absolutely delighted that we were able to help save the little baby," he added.


and so say all of us ..... :ok: