Medics fight back.........

[MyEdUrts]

BBC Midlands Today are running a story on the use of BHX as the casualty reception airport tonite at 6.30pm.

The locals have been complaining about the military flights disrupting their sleep at night. ahhhhhhh....Shouldn't live so close to an airport then.

But good PR from the RCDM and good footage of KC1 arriving at BHX and the casualty being offloaded.

Well done all those who are involved in these aeromed missions and the staff at RCDM.

[movadinkampa747]

No need to wait until 6:30. See it now from this link

BBC Midlands (http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/midlandstoday/latest_features/index.shtml)

Tristars not routinly used by the RAF? Possessions vibrating? Muppets.

[airborne_artist]

Jet noise = the sound of freedom

[luoto]

Might even improve the value of some of the houses in the greater Birmingham area (vibration might shake the dust and sh1t away).

An ex resident of those environs writes.

[glum]

Tristars not routinely used by RAF, and making more noise than civilian jets?

Hahahahaha!:ugh:

[sarsteph]

If those folk think it's bad being disturbed in their nice cosy double-glazed houses maybe they should try sleeping through a Tri-star arriving or taking off while sleeping in a tent at BAS :* .

[November4]

Please say this isn't true.....From the Mover's site....

Its a good job the BBC didn't pick up on the fact that after they had left from filming the casualty being offloaded, that all the pax and crew were left stranded at BHX.

All thanks to 216 ops not organising a slip crew. How embarrassing and they say we **** up.

The Col on board was not impressed, neither the 10 man mams team.
So once the loady had explained the farce to the pax and that they would have to stay on board for upto 4 hrs whilst a slip crew was generated.

[movadinkampa747]

He did leave a bit off. The movers at BHX apparently organised a bus through servisair to take passengers and crew away.

Movers site here. (http://www.rafmovs.com/cpgn/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=786#13539)

[Grum Peace Odd]

According to the minutes of the Birmingham Airport Environment Monitoring Working Group dated 4 Oct 06 the chair is Mr John Stevens rather than the previously referred to (previous post now deleted) holder of an OBE (who is chair of the Birmingham Airport Consultative Committee - the parent of the EMWG).

The chair of the EMWG seems to have objections to military flights on record before the recently highlighted flight, judging by this extract from the last set of minutes:
The Chairman, commenting on the military operations in July and August, both exceeding the night noise violation level, felt he had previously requested information relating to the number of military operations at Birmingham. Mr Wilson undertook to produce this information.

Mr Wilson advised that military flights were essential operations, bringing in injured military personnel for transfer to Selly Oak Hospital. The MoD is reminded to avoid night movements, but this is not always possible. The Chairman stated that the planning process did not appear to embrace consideration of when the aircraft would land. The Chairman commented on the possible future situation, if as reported in the local press, a medical base of significance is developed locally. Mr Minton commented on the fact that VC10 operations were being withdrawn and replaced with less noisy aircraft.

Mr Hill felt it would be inappropriate for the Airport Company to comment on any proposals to develop a medical base, such as at Whittington Barracks,
Lichfield and whilst he understood the sensitivity of this issue, it would be more appropriate for communities to raise the issue through their political representatives.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, 31 January 2007, MR3, Diamond House, Birmingham International Airport. Unfortunately, the meetings are not open to the press or public so we can't have a serviceman ask them why his/her life is less important than the noise of living next to an airport. We could always write... his address is listed on the Solihull Council Website (http://www.solihull.gov.uk/akssolihull/users/public/admin/main.pl?op=MemberDetails&keyid=70). We could ask him in his official capacity, what the EMWG's value of human life is.

A full copy of the minutes of the recent meeting in pdf format is at http://www.ukaccs.info/bham/251006it5b.pdf. It is possible to look back over Mr Stevens publicly noted activities through the published minutes of the EMWG over the past couple of years and his involvement from being the Marston Green Residents Association representative, to becoming the chair.

Isn't the internet wonderful at times?

[Always a Sapper]

BBC Midlands Today are running a story on the use of BHX as the casualty reception airport tonite at 6.30pm.

The locals have been complaining about the military flights disrupting their sleep at night. ahhhhhhh....Shouldn't live so close to an airport then.

But good PR from the RCDM and good footage of KC1 arriving at BHX and the casualty being offloaded.

Well done all those who are involved in these aeromed missions and the staff at RCDM.


A two ship escort with a couple of Tornado's for each flight should just about sort the noise whinge from Birmingham ... or just send a 'fun bus' :E :E

Living not so far from a secret Oxfordshire base I can honestly say the noise is NOT a problem... neither are the shaking ornaments... anymore! Amazing stuff that 'harry black'

I'll second the big well done to all those involved with the aeromed missions and RCDM, adding thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery for all those injured.

[Aeronut]

Jet noise = the sound of freedom


Jet noise...the sound of overtime!

[dinoorin]

What is it with this country lately.
The over all support for the services is less than impressive from the general public.
Whilst our cousins across the water are somewhat over the top with these things - at least they support their forces and even Revere them.
UK=armed forces are a nuisance. Generally from middle aged chuffers that have never served but have daddies medals all over the house on display.
Makes me sick.:yuk:
Rant OFF
As one who is now well and truly UK based, all I can say is good on you lads and if you need to conduct night ops to get people back, then I am happy to loose a few hours kip.:D

[anotherthing]

Dinoorin

Whilst I believe that the support witnessed in 1981 when the forces went south is not as prevalant today, I think that the public do still support our armed force.

What does not help is a sh**e foreign policy which some of the public must (mistakenly) think is to do with the military and not the gimps in governement

[RobinXe]

I think that the public do still support our armed force.

If you mean that, when asked, the man in the street will answer 'yes' to the question 'do you support our armed forces?' then you may well be right, but when you look at how servicemen/women in the states are treated; able to walk the streets in their uniform without being abused or assaulted, offered discounts/upgrades pretty much everywhere, and generally made to feel welcome in spite of any small inconveniences their service may place on civilians, then you can see that actions really do speak louder than words!

[Brian Abraham]

Perhaps the good Mr John Stevens and kin could be transported (courtesy of RAF?) to a quieter neighbourhood. I suggest a sand pit where the only disturbance may be the odd B-40, IED, mortar or AK burst.

[Cumbrian Fell]

What utter rot from Birmingham Airport EMWG. The Whittington Barracks (Lichfield) programme is to centralise the training of medics from the three services at the RCDM and to provide a domestic base for medical and nursing personnel at Selly Oaks. It is not a medical facility, per se. My only reget is that T* and VC-10s don't have afterburners...

[air pig]

I agree with Cumbrian Fell. What an opening for a local politican to visit troops from his home area. I do hope that his local Regiment make him an offer he cannot refuse !!

A trip around the base hospital at Basra, and out with the medical immediate reaction teams, or even just a trip to the troops at Birmingham Selly Oak may just realign his perspective a little. Opps, forgot politicans don't do things like that.

[handysnaks]

Gents. I don't think you should take this so personally. (and before you get up in arms, as far as I am concerned the Mil assets that arrive at BHX are welcome anytime (and any of the crews who want a wet can nip to the RHS of the control tower and we'll rustle you up a cup). However, like all airports Birmingham has a vociferous anti airport brigade who are particularly anti about night flights (We manage to get a few ourselves and we make less noise than Tristars APU!). It isn't about the military, it isn't about the war, its just the freedom of the general public to complain about what they want (or in this case, don't want).

It is rather sobering to witness these aircraft coming in so regularly and to think about the destination of the pax.:(

[dinoorin]

If you mean that, when asked, the man in the street will answer 'yes' to the question 'do you support our armed forces?' then you may well be right, but when you look at how servicemen/women in the states are treated; able to walk the streets in their uniform without being abused or assaulted, offered discounts/upgrades pretty much everywhere, and generally made to feel welcome in spite of any small inconveniences their service may place on civilians, then you can see that actions really do speak louder than words!
As evidenced in this weeks mail on Sunday. 'Army officer in uniform denied entry to Harrods following a remembrance day parade because he was in uniform - reason given, it may offend or overwhelm the customers to see a military uniform'.
About time our government got off their rears and started openly supporting our guys by slamming companies whenever they do stupid things like this.

[gar170]

maybe he should have put a vail on?.

[Cason]

Jet noise = the sound of freedom
Couldnt agree more matey. We'd be in a hell of a situation if we didnt HAVE jet noise! I think people should just wake up and realize that this is all for a just cause.

[air pig]

I do hope Mr Stevens educated himself last night by watching Real Story on BBC1 at 7pm. It showed a small snippet of a Critical Care Aeromedical Team (CCAT) taking a young serviceman to Selly Oak Intensive Care Unit following battle trauma.

Road transport is always a risk and an un-neccesary journey from BZN would only have compounded the inherent dangers of moving the critically ill.

The present situation is not ideal of having service personel on civil wards, but their is no reason why a prefabricated ward block cannot be built on site, secured and used for HM forces. The prefabricated system does work, as I have seen it used in my own hospital. This would provide a temporary solution until a more long term decision can be made. The comments of the ICU Consultant are quite correct in that HM Forces do not have the number of Medical and Nursing staff from all specialities in sufficient numbers or facillities to manage complex trauma cases

The programme also highlighted the disgraceful treatment of ex servicemen/women and their physical and psychlogical trauma and an inability to access care within the NHS that they require. I would ask all Ppruners to support the charities in their work and to start to write their MPs highlighting their concerns about the situation.

Angry and distressed, you bet I am !!