Nige321
9th Apr 2012, 23:08
Spotted earlier....
BBC news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-17656644)
Daily inspections are being carried out on Scotland's helicopter air ambulance fleet following concerns about their safety.
The aircraft manufacturer, Eurocopter, has been ordered to establish the cause of a crack found on the main rotor of a Scottish air ambulance.
About 1,000 EC135 models worldwide are being inspected for the problem.
The Scottish Air Ambulance Service has two of the helicopters based at Inverness and Glasgow.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered the safety inspections each day while the fault is being investigated.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service: "We were notified at once of this issue by the aircraft's operator, Bond Air Services.
"The part was replaced immediately and Bond are carrying out detailed daily inspections of the aircraft in line with the EASA directive.
"The safety of both patients and air crew is absolutely paramount and we would not allow them to fly if there was the least doubt about airworthiness."
He added: "Bond is working closely with Eurocopter on this issue and is assured that the aircraft remain safe and serviceable."
Bond Air Services said it was doing everything to comply with the new safety orders, and that its helicopters met the highest safety standards.
BBC news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-17656644)
Daily inspections are being carried out on Scotland's helicopter air ambulance fleet following concerns about their safety.
The aircraft manufacturer, Eurocopter, has been ordered to establish the cause of a crack found on the main rotor of a Scottish air ambulance.
About 1,000 EC135 models worldwide are being inspected for the problem.
The Scottish Air Ambulance Service has two of the helicopters based at Inverness and Glasgow.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered the safety inspections each day while the fault is being investigated.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service: "We were notified at once of this issue by the aircraft's operator, Bond Air Services.
"The part was replaced immediately and Bond are carrying out detailed daily inspections of the aircraft in line with the EASA directive.
"The safety of both patients and air crew is absolutely paramount and we would not allow them to fly if there was the least doubt about airworthiness."
He added: "Bond is working closely with Eurocopter on this issue and is assured that the aircraft remain safe and serviceable."
Bond Air Services said it was doing everything to comply with the new safety orders, and that its helicopters met the highest safety standards.