UK Air Ambulance crew staffing

[Mungo5]

Hello folks.

I've noticed that the East Anglian Air Ambulance seems to operate with only one pilot, (from Sterling) covering four counties- yet by comparison the Yorkshire Air Ambulance website reports that they operate with seven pilots.

Is this a true picture for other Ambulance services up and down the country? And, if EAA is the 'second busiest' in the country do they only warrant a single pilot (presume others on standyby?)

I'm thinking that as most of their funding is driven from their charity status' - is that what dictates the level of spending?

Thoughts?

M5

[Rigga]

Two BK117's last time I looked!

[Helinut]

E Anglia use 2 BK117s at different bases - I doubt that 1 pilot can cover both. Is your information accurate? It seems unlikely.

On a continuous basis 1 pilot can only fly 5 days in 7. Some charities only have the funding for 5 days per week, but if they fly 7 days per week at least 2 pilots are needed.

A county is not designed to produce equivalent demand on the air ambulance service that covers it. Yorkshire is big and populous; some East Anglian counties are not.

[vortexadminman]

I think you will find that there are not 7 pilots for Yorkshire!!. Each base will have one or two dedicated pilots and the others are floaters. So the floaters will cover not only Yorkshire but other areas as well. Each base ( as does Anglia) have 1 dedicated pilot who lives near by. One or two pilots per base does not cover 24/7 hence........... floaters. It makes no economical sense to employ 3 or 4 pilots per base when floating pilots can cover holiday, sickness, and in summer months FTL hour restrictions.

[Whirlygig]

Sterling employs a number of pilots who can operate in different roles so whilst there is only one pilot at a time in the aircraft (of which there are two), there is a pool from which to roster.

Cheers

Whirls

[Tq Monster]

The EAAA uses 2 BK 117's which each cover two counties, from seperate locations. One at Norwich and one at RAF Wyton.

There is a pool of pilots who cover all of the duties. These pilot are employed by Sterling and are not for the exclusive use of the Air Ambulance.

The amount of pilots allows for compiliance with FDP rules, and I'm sure you wouldn't deny the pilots a little time off?

Tq Monster

[g-mady]

7 pilots??? I hear Cambridgeshire police only require one engine :eek:

MADY

[Mungo5]

Re the sources of information in my OP. The YAA website show seven pilots, and I think it was Sterling's website that mentioned a single pilot at EAA.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance - Coming Soon (http://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/meettheteam/crew/)

You're all quite right that it takes more than 1 or two people to fly those sort of shifts; I also notice from Sterling's website that EAA only flies during the day.

[Skidkid]

I hear Cambridgeshire police only require one engine

What on earth has that got to do with 'UK Air Ambulance crew staffing'?

[Bob the Doc]

Are you getting confused between the number of pilots required to fly the a/c and the number of pilots required to staff the rota?

WNAA and DLRAA are single-pilot operations (as most HEMS operations are). Their pilots are all employed by Sloane Helicopters. A small number work full time on the Air Ambulance and a larger number do occasional shifts.

Does that clarify things?

[Mungo5]

Are you getting confused between the number of pilots required to fly the a/c and the number of pilots required to staff the rota?No, no, I realise they're mostly single pilot, I'm just wondering if the number of pilots employed (full time, or otherwise) differs between areas - as would appear to be advertised on various Amb Auth websites.

Does that clarify things? Indeed it does..

many thanks,

[Helinut]

Mungo 5,

The Ambulance Authorities/Trusts (Air or otherwise) don't care and probably do not even know how many pilots support their operation. The pilots are employed by the aviation company that has a contract to (usually) supply a turnkey service including helicopter, pilots, maintenance etc. They just agree the days of the week and the times of shifts and pay a fat cheque every month.

[Mungo5]

HN - thanks for the reply.. Usual outsourced model applies then.