HEMS and Police rotation in the UK

[bigRed87]

Here in Norway the EMS helicopter pilots go on a alternating 1 week on, 3 weeks off and 1 week on, 2 weeks off.

Whats the rotation like in the UK?

Do they even have a rotation or do they just do scheduled flights?

Thinking about UK NPAS and other police HEMS operators.

[jayteeto]

HEMS: 5 on / 2 off / 5 on / 5 off / 2 on / 4 standby / 1 off

24 day shift pattern, you always end up working 3 of the standby shifts

[handysnaks]

Hello bigRed87. Can't speak for HEMS but the NPAS pilot rotation is:
2 x 12 hour day shifts
2 x 12 hour night shifts
The rest day following the last night shift
3 days off
Repeat

[nowherespecial]

BigRed, just so I've inderstood, if I've read this right, you work 2 weeks in 7?!

alternating 1 week on, 3 weeks off and 1 week on, 2 weeks off.

[GoodGrief]

Those should be 24 hour shifts. 7*24=168 hours. Times 2 = 336, divided by 7 comes out to an average of 48 hours/week...

[bigRed87]

Yes, in Norway you are on 24/7 for one week and then you are off 2-3 weeks.

Please PM me if anyone know of any openings on a twin, I'm willing to relocate anywhere in the world.

3400hr TOT
3200hr AS350 mostly sling in mountain areas.
Finished my IR theory and taking my ME IR soon.
Currently Chief pilot in a company operating 6 AS350 and leasing 5 more in the season.

[jayteeto]

I did that NPAS roster pattern for 7 years, it was brilliant, not fatiguing at all.
PS. They don't have IRs yet

[Sloppy Link]

For the past year or so NPAS have made an IR a requirement for new pilots.

[jayteeto]

Didn't know that, stupid question, but does an IR gain a higher wage?

[handysnaks]

Fohnwind, no point comparing it with commercial offshore salaries more accurate to compare it with other onshore 'non commercial' salaries. Factor in the current state of the market and the fact that NPAS is a public sector organisation spending your tax 'dollar'!

[Rotate too late]

interestingly Handy, if you do, in fact, make the comparison I'm inclined to think there's not much in it anyway. Even as an SFO I'm sure that most of the difference would be put into travel or accommodation expenses. And as for an easier job.....I'm not sure an Aberdeen winter is exactly a piece of piss.
RTL

[[email protected]]

And hours of straight line transit with the AP fully coupled..........

[Mustapha Cuppa]

Didn't take long, did it.

[chcoffshore]

And hours of straight line transit with the AP fully coupled..........

So please enlighten us all with your offshore tails from your zero O&G experience. Now off to work "wheels up couple up"!

[chcoffshore]

two crew means half the work

An actual post without knocking ex mil pilots!

[handysnaks]

I did 6 years offshore and found the winters in particular, very challenging! Most of the pilots I worked with were exceptionally competent (can't speak for myself). The ladies and gents working up there deserve every shilling that they get👍.

[Bravo73]

An actual post without knocking ex mil pilots!
Still spewing cr@p though...

[Sloppy Link]

NPAS are recruiting for Redhill, St Athan and Bournemouth, closing date 10 Jul if you're quick.

[MightyGem]

For the past year or so NPAS have made an IR a requirement for new pilots.
Yes. Existing pilots won't be required to get one though as NPAS can't afford to pay for the training.

I suppose that the increasing transit distances to jobs will make an IR a handy thing to have if the weather closes in on the way home. There were a few times when it would have been nice to climb up instead of groping along near minimums.

[serf]

Would they be carrying enough fuel at the end of a mission to be IFR legal?

[handysnaks]

serf, I don't believe the aim is to be permanently IFR (the camera's aren't that good). It just enhances the options at the start of a mission. The skill set (should enough IMC experience be obtained/maintained) should enhance the safety of the operation.

[Flyting]

What are the regs regarding flight & duty under EASA?
I heard a while back that they were thinking of doing away with the 7/7, wanting to make it 5/5...

[topik22]

Hello
I think there is no such regulation in EASA in HEMS ops.... Each country has got it's own regulation...
Greets
Jacek

[Brilliant Stuff]

Jayteeto are you being cynical about your shift pattern not being fatiguing?

[jayteeto]

The 2D/2N/4off worked for me. I was based at a busy merseyside police unit and did this shift for nearly seven years. I never had a problem with fatigue. In fact we are hoping our current hems unit will switch to a similar roster as our previous mentioned is more fatiguing.

[Rotate too late]

whilst I agree with Jayteeto for the most part, one unfortunate issue is the wildly different attitudes and accommodation for the night shifts. But in the main I think it's a mega set up for the job we do. :ok: