Wiltshire Air Ambulance more woes.

[Dai Whirlybird]

Heli-charter, the AOC holder and maintenance provider for Wiltshire Air Ambulance have ceased trading as of today.

This of course means that the AOC for Wiltshire Air Ambulance has disappeared and that they are now no longer able to operate until that's resolved. On top of that there has recently been ANOTHER very similar tail rotor incident on their Bell 429, G-WLTS. An additional issue now of course is that there are no engineers available to look into it!

Bell seem to be quite comfortable in denying that there's a problem with the 429's TR and the AAIB were not (but now, given a second occurence, might be) interested in looking into it.

The shortcomings at Heli-Charter have been visible for all to see over the latter part of last year - even from the sidelines it's clear that the executive management at WAA have been caught napping. A trawl through these pages reveals a less than favourable opinion of the WAA management and I guess the mess they're now in will serve to galvanise it.

Can't help but feel sorry for all those living through it.

Blyyddyn Newydd Dda!

[Professor Bublinsky]

I saw this coming months ago, so why didn't the CEO and the Aviation director of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance see it. Complacency!! Amateurs.

[jayteeto]

We looked at the 429 when they did the UK sales 'tour'. It looked like a great machine to operate. I don't know any details of the WAA hierarchy and have no links, but surely they could never have seen the TR problems coming??????
When they started up with Heli-Charter, many of us thought it was a gutsy move to go with a smaller company and it was widely commented on here on Pprune. But companies have to start thinking bigger somewhere/sometime? They took a punt and it didnt work, but they were not the first OR last to try that. Lets just hope that they dont lose too much money and move on successfully, fingers crossed

[Hedski]

They were warned and didn't listen. The CAA weren't happy about granting Heli Charter's AOC the required permissions, in fact withdrew it on occasion. A company who let everyone down running the major golf event at Sandwich, but the biggest crook in the house bailed months ago taking the Bell dealership with him. Sadly he's still sliming his way round in a 429/505 trying to blag it like he did on a PPL doing 'experience' flights for so many years.

[Cabby]

They were warned and didn't listen. The CAA weren't happy about granting Heli Charter's AOC the required permissions, in fact withdrew it on occasion. A company who let everyone down running the major golf event at Sandwich, but the biggest crook in the house bailed months ago taking the Bell dealership with him. Sadly he's still sliming his way round in a 429/505 trying to blag it like he did on a PPL doing 'experience' flights for so many years.

From memory the Wiltshire Air Ambulance charity signed a 10 year contract with Heli Charter in 2014. The last accounts at Companies House make interesting reading. Wonder who will pick up the pieces?

Nothing mentioned on Wiltshire Air Ambulance twitter page about the AOC or Heli Charter in the posts made today. https://twitter.com/WiltsAirAmbu
The website for Heli Charter appears to have been closed. Why did they lose their AOC?

The charities webpage reveals the "leadership team" which shows which director was responsible for dealing Heli Charter and Bell.
https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/meet-the-team/

[Dai Whirlybird]

Wonder who will pick up the pieces?

WAA have already begun the process of writing their own AOC and a social media press report (quoting a WAA spokesperson) suggests that it's granting "is iminent". I'm also told that they have already appointed a new maintenance organisation.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!

[JulieAndrews]

WAA have already begun the process of writing their own AOC and a social media press report (quoting a WAA spokesperson) suggests that it's granting "is iminent". I'm also told that they have already appointed a new maintenance organisation.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!
Dai - was the bold font to display your disbelief or the atrocious spelling?
Let’s hope for better ‘attention to detail’ with their AOC editing.......

On a serious note - best wishes to the girls and guys at the “coalface” - here’s to a speedy and safe recovery.

[Thomas coupling]

Difficult to believe there are still amateurs running enterprises like this after the air ambulance world has been operating for decades.
I thought the riff raff had been weeded out but it seems not.
I was going to say that the world of charities attracts a fair share of underqualified and unprofessional people anyway.............but then NPAS popped into my mind!

Hopefully the experts will now take charge and someone like Bond et al, will sort it out.

Good luck to the new owners, they are going to need it.

[ShyTorque]

In view of no AOC, presumably Wiltshire has no dedicated air ambulance cover at the moment?

[Cabby]

In view of no AOC, presumably Wiltshire has no dedicated air ambulance cover at the moment?

The answer is no. The 429 will be grounded as the a/c insurance etc will no longer be in place due to the Heli Charter AOC being withdrawn by the CAA. Unless they are piggybacking another operators AOC but other operators may need to tick a lot more boxes with the CAA looking at the operation.

There are people who will write the paperwork for a fee, but the CAA will be looking at who maintains and runs the operation.
The charity may need to look for a qualified accountable manager.
https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Air_Operator_Certificate_(AOC) follow the initial link onto AOC.

More details. https://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2129.pdf

[206 jock]

Looks like it is grounded. For two reasons!

https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/statement-from-wiltshire-air-ambulance/

[ShyTorque]

Cabby, Thanks for the input, I'm well aware of the rules regarding the acqusition of an AOC. :cool:

I was curious to know if there was any other air cover in the meantime.

[Thomas coupling]

They have a drone with battenburg colours?

[ShyTorque]

They have a drone with battenburg colours?

That's OK then....

[Cpt_Pugwash]

I was curious to know if there was any other air cover in the meantime.

In the past, the GWAA has provided cover, don't know if that will happen in the current situation.

This was taken locally, back on August 27 2015.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1111/aug27_012sml_f7722ee64755c29ca8bc0ff1dcb99641111822a8.jpg

[Aucky]

Between Great Western (Filton), TVAA (Benson), Dorset & Somerset (Henstridge) and Midlands (Strensham) most corners of their patch should remain relatively well covered by air until they find a solution. 3 of those attended a mutual aid job in Wiltshire’s patch simultaneously not long back when their aircraft was down...

[Slimmy]

The ambulance service which covers Wiltshire (South Western Ambulance Service) has a HEMS desk dispatching all the aircraft. They are frequently sent across the counties depending upon availability and skill mix of crew - you need a doctor to deliver anaesthesia, for instance. I'm sure it'll be well covered both by the Wiltshire AA crew on a vehicle and others by air, predominantly GWAAC and DSAA.

[lynx-effect]

I'm amazed by all the people that saw it coming. These are good people with good morals just having a blip. Who hasn't?

[Chris Kebab]

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2019-01-09/wiltshire-air-ambulance-to-resume-flying-again/

[Cpt_Pugwash]

As Chris notes above, cover has been restored, although this report (https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/17346061.replacement-air-ambulance-will-be-flying-from-friday/) suggests the deal with SAS is an existing contingency arrangement rather than a new deal. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but it will be nice to see the 902 back in West Wilts.

[Hedski]

I'm amazed by all the people that saw it coming. These are good people with good morals just having a blip. Who hasn't?

Sorry but you’re either part of the charity, naive or a member of the public hoping their donation has not been abused. HEMS charities are riddled with self serving, greedy and sometimes fraudulent activities by board members. Wasteage, back handers, dodgy deals abound. While the pilots are amongst the highest qualified but poorest paid in Europe, on and offshore. Third party providers continue to keep wages down as do directly employing charities using the old ‘poor us’ excuses whilst spending ever increasing amounts on ‘centres of excellence’ (they can’t all be) and larger less suitable aircraft increasingly unable to land in urban confined areas. And it’s this amazing bias in spending that needs to be investigated nationwide. Which board members have their fingers in places they shouldn’t. Have ‘anonymous’ donations been used to guarantee building contracts, this would be fraud surely. Is having an aoc controlled by a board member necessary when several existing aoc’s with appropriate approvals offered to provide their assistance both in the past and recently? The cloak of charity being abused. Of course nobody dare ask any questions. How could you, we’re saving lives here. Doesn’t mean you can break laws, on numerous levels. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

[tigerfish]

Hedski,
You raise number of issues that do need to be examined !

TF

[chopper2004]

Sorry but you’re either part of the charity, naive or a member of the public hoping their donation has not been abused. HEMS charities are riddled with self serving, greedy and sometimes fraudulent activities by board members. Wasteage, back handers, dodgy deals abound. While the pilots are amongst the highest qualified but poorest paid in Europe, on and offshore. Third party providers continue to keep wages down as do directly employing charities using the old ‘poor us’ excuses whilst spending ever increasing amounts on ‘centres of excellence’ (they can’t all be) and larger less suitable aircraft increasingly unable to land in urban confined areas. And it’s this amazing bias in spending that needs to be investigated nationwide. Which board members have their fingers in places they shouldn’t. Have ‘anonymous’ donations been used to guarantee building contracts, this would be fraud surely. Is having an aoc controlled by a board member necessary when several existing aoc’s with appropriate approvals offered to provide their assistance both in the past and recently? The cloak of charity being abused. Of course nobody dare ask any questions. How could you, we’re saving lives here. Doesn’t mean you can break laws, on numerous levels. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Interesting ...it could be a lot lot worse it could be the US EMS model. Where it’s more driven by Health insurance - patients horizontally strapped (not needing air transportation) in ummm conditions we rather not fly in and subsequent (fatal) accidents.

The only rumbles / concerns we heard of or questioned is the Children’s AA or TheAA over recent years...as it’s been discussed here and even on BBc1 7 o clock One Show ( thousands spent on having Strictly Come Dancing judges teaching dancing to the staff of said charity outside Rugby one Xmas and one volunteer or member of public saying their methods of muscling in on fundraising could else to disaster).

cheers

[chopper2004]

They were warned and didn't listen. The CAA weren't happy about granting Heli Charter's AOC the required permissions, in fact withdrew it on occasion. A company who let everyone down running the major golf event at Sandwich, but the biggest crook in the house bailed months ago taking the Bell dealership with him. Sadly he's still sliming his way round in a 429/505 trying to blag it like he did on a PPL doing 'experience' flights for so many years.

i thought the owner of HC was ill with cancer ( not terminally) hence why the Bell dealership went elsewhere. Btw the other individual you speak of is a member on here.

I’m not batting for Bell ( even though one has a soft heart for their legacy Uh-1/ 204/5/212/412/Yankee) but hope sincerely it’s not going to be the end of Bell 429 as HEMS in U.K...

cheers and Happy New Year.

[DeltaNg]

While the pilots are amongst the highest qualified but poorest paid in Europe, on and offshore.

This is becoming increasingly apparent with the advent of Multi Pilot ops requiring ATPL for command AND IR AND NVIS experience AND P1 Multi time AND HEMS experience etc...

When the Offshore market recovers, prepare for a pilot exodus.

[Hedski]

Just like the post re Specialists continual advertising on the 2019 jobs thread. They just don’t get it. But have been told.... yet refuse to pay anything like the going rate.

[MightyGem]

Hedski,
You raise number of issues that do need to be examined !
And verified!

Do you have an axe to grind, Hedski.

[Hedski]

NOPE Have never had anything to do with said establishment.

[Professor Bublinsky]

I'll be sorry to see the Bell 429 go, it's a very capable aircraft. The 902 has seen its day it would of struggled in the temperature this last summer.

[SARWannabe]

I'll be sorry to see the Bell 429 go, it's a very capable aircraft. The 902 has seen its day it would of struggled in the temperature this last summer.

The 902 has proven itself an excellent safe & capable hems aircraft over the last decade or so, but the more space you provide the more kit/people they will add. It’s hard to go ‘back’ to a 902 once crews have got used to carrying an extra crew member and additional kit. The 429 is perhaps a marginal step up from a 207 engined 902 at best - it uses the same engines! It’s essentially a more expensive slightly larger 902. If you’re going to spend the extra money you may as well get a 145/169 and reap the real benefits of additional power and space.

[Hedski]

And it just gets better.....

https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/2789304/wiltshire-air-ambulance-needs-extra-half-a-million-pounds-a-year/

So having spanked £5m on a facility clearly not worth £5m and insisted on having own aoc, hows that process going..., now those with their hands in the till see another avenue....?

[Chris Kebab]

It's back!

https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/bell-429-update/

[Professor Bublinsky]

about time! no thanks to management.

[Hughes500]

is the 902 not a better machine ?

[Cpt_Pugwash]

The woes at the Wilts Air Ambulance made the front page of our local rag this week. Seems there are still problems with the AOC certification.

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/17930312.air-ambulance-left-lurch-caa-delay-awarding-air-operating-certificate/
https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/17930295.delay-setback-wiltshire-air-ambulance/.
The comments make interesting reading too.

[Dai Whirlybird]

Nothing surprises me anymore with this outfit. A press release back in January told us that the granting of their AOC was imminent and yet 10 months down the line it's still not happened. They trot out the same PR response everytime " We're continuing to respond with our RRV's"

I dread to think what their balance sheet is looking like, they've been funding 2 aircraft during the majority of that period and only delivering a very limited service. It'd be interesting to divde the charity's total costs with the number of incidents attended to provide a cost per incident figure - I shudder to think what that would be!!

We all know that the CAA would only resist or delay issuing an AOC if there were issues with the operation that still needed resolving - the CAA is a first class regulator and if they see fit not to issue an AOC there'll be a very good reason why.

[Rocket2]

As a (small) supporter of this charity I feel the CAA & the charity should issue a statement stating why the AOC remains delayed, as stated (I am in the aviation business) there must be problems.

[Dai Whirlybird]

I know it's a few months old, but this report, especially paragraph 4, if true doesn't cover the charity in glory. The Tail Rotor incident mentioned here is currently the subject of an AAIB investigation.

https://www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/wiltshire-air-ambulance-is-still-not-flying-nearly-five-weeks-on/

[Professor Bublinsky]

I still question whether senior managers should be at their post. Please resign and go!!

[Sumpor Stylee]

How when one senior manager is writing said AOC in a manner that makes him indispensable so he will never be able to be got rid of....

[nomorehelosforme]

How when one senior manager is writing said AOC in a manner that makes him indispensable so he will never be able to be got rid of....


Plenty of indispensable people in the graveyard.......

[chopper2004]

Slightly digressing, there is a glamor calendar going around called a foxy Hunters which has been running for several years supporting ...WAAT and HIOWAT .......

https://www.foxyhunters.co.uk/charities/4540269073


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/3b926a4c_4ced_48ab_96c8_0a1322906e7f_7fe6b3d30f3a26184cad0b0 a45dfc6d43dc4f84e.jpeg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/396x560/757a6551_af77_4c02_a2cb_d7ce8a6032cc_6d95aae1563947c9c44f984 d756af80ab06e8285.png

Hope all works out well in the end for all parties and said 429 back up....

Cheers

[Professor Bublinsky]

Thats the trouble he is making himself indispensable. He not writing the AOC, he would just delegate it down.

[Dai Whirlybird]

Local news agencies reporting that the AOC has finally been granted.........

[Sumpor Stylee]

https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/wiltshire-air-ambulance-receives-aoc-and-resumes-flying/?utm_source=vertical-daily-news-todays-news&utm_campaign=vertical-daily-news&utm_medium=email&utm_term=todays-news&utm_content=V1

Looks like it has. How long since the 429 last flew? How much charity money has been put down specialists neck to cover? How much has the whole ordeal cost? Why was the ZZ Top lookalike hob nobbing around vertical expo last week in Farnborough? Much for bbc panorama to ponder when they finally get round to it. Maybe not the last bit though....

[Dai Whirlybird]

Over 11 months since it last did any tasking, I dread to think of the costs accrued.

As for the last bit...........I'd watch it!

[Cpt_Pugwash]

It appears that an AOC granted at last.

https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/news

https://ocm.wiltshire.gov.uk/rwb/wiltshire-air-ambulance-receives-aoc-and-resumes-flying/

[Professor Bublinsky]

I expect senior managers will resign now after this mess

[nomorehelosforme]

I expect senior managers will resign now after this mess

Doubtfull, they like many others that head up not just some Charities but also failing business hide behind the accountants, bankruptcy administrators and receivers while milking as much as possible for personal gain, and are still in charge when they emerge from chapter 11 bankruptcies! The regulators can’t keep up with the way monies are dispersed.

[PANews]

you may be being too harsh.

I understand [that having the money in the bank anyway] Wiltshire bought the airframe to help out the failing AOC holder on the assumption that the move would mean the AOC holder would therefore survive.

When the AOC holder still went to the wall they were faced will having to get their own AOC from cold or go to another AOC holder to take on the Bell 429 [which might have cost Wilts at least the same as getting their own].

as it turned out the technical problems at the time probably convinced them that all would be in place by the time the problems were resolved. Aviation rarely works that way

[timmak]

From Private Eye 1511 (13 December(
Air ambulances
Wilting in Wilts
Wiltshire Air Ambulance service (WAA) is finally airborne again. But that's no thanks to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), whose bureaucracy kept its helicopter grounded for months - a delay that risked the lives of critically ill people. WAA, a self funding charity, has had a difficult year since Heli Charter, the company that held its crucial air operator certificate (AOC), ceased trading in January. WAA swiftly made contingency arrangements to use a back up helicopter belonging to Specialist Aviation Services, but ended that expensive temporary arrangement in August in the belief that getting the final go ahead to resume flying its own Bell 429 was by then a formality. Not so. While WAA had satisfied the CAA that it was competent to fly in its own right - a qualified pilot and management structure were in place - the authority dragged its feet on two other crucial matters. The first was signing off on "continual airworthiness" - ensuring processes were in place for the helicopter to be properly maintained, even though WAA had submitted the necessary paperwork in March. The second, bizarrely, related to consumer protection, despite WAA being a charity and not a commercial operation. Interference by CAA's airline licensing consumer and markets group held everything up as it became swamped by fallout from the Thomas Cook collapse and the demands of Brexit. As CAA dithered, WAA was forced to spend extra money funding two rapid response cars. Although manned by paramedics with the same skills and equipment, delays proved critical. Road journeys to casualty units took up to an hour, whereas a helicopter can fly anywhere in Wiltshire in around ten minutes. Sometimes neighbouring air ambulance services helped out, but an inside source told the Eye the prolonged lack of its own helicopter at WAA "cost lives", though they could not say how many and in what circumstances. A bland statement from the CAA ignored all the Eye's questions about the causes of the delay and the failure to prioritise a lifeline service. "We liaised with Wiltshire Air Ambulance Trust during the application process and, on several occasions, needed to ask them for additional information to support their original application. The process is now complete, and the company has its AOC," it said. WAA finally resumed flying in November. It has now made a formal complaint to the CAA, and told the Eye it was constantly passed from pillar to post, unable to deal with the same official. "It's impossible to calculate how many times we tried chasing them up," a spokesman said. WAA chief executive David Philpott said that the CAA constantly complained of being "too busy". "Our point was that all the time we're not flying, lives are at risk," he said. "We have made our anger known".

[jeepys]

Why do WAA think they should be able to jump the queue just because they are a ‘life saving’ charity. A question that you would want an answer to if you were affected by the TC fall out.

For all the negative parts of the CAA it must be said they are a top class regulator always with the passengers interest at the forefront and I expect they are trying hard to prevent the AA theatre of flying becoming like it is in the U.S.

It’s great to see the AA’s expanding in both numbers and capabilities but with a number of different providers now in the UK the regulator will be working hard to ensure high standards are maintained throughout the companies.

[OvertHawk]

From Private Eye 1511 (13 December(
Air ambulances
Wilting in Wilts
Wiltshire Air Ambulance service (WAA) is finally airborne again. But that's no thanks to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), whose bureaucracy kept its helicopter grounded for months - a delay that risked the lives of critically ill people. WAA, a self funding charity, has had a difficult year since Heli Charter, the company that held its crucial air operator certificate (AOC), ceased trading in January. WAA swiftly made contingency arrangements to use a back up helicopter belonging to Specialist Aviation Services, but ended that expensive temporary arrangement in August in the belief that getting the final go ahead to resume flying its own Bell 429 was by then a formality. Not so. While WAA had satisfied the CAA that it was competent to fly in its own right - a qualified pilot and management structure were in place - the authority dragged its feet on two other crucial matters. The first was signing off on "continual airworthiness" - ensuring processes were in place for the helicopter to be properly maintained, even though WAA had submitted the necessary paperwork in March. The second, bizarrely, related to consumer protection, despite WAA being a charity and not a commercial operation. Interference by CAA's airline licensing consumer and markets group held everything up as it became swamped by fallout from the Thomas Cook collapse and the demands of Brexit. As CAA dithered, WAA was forced to spend extra money funding two rapid response cars. Although manned by paramedics with the same skills and equipment, delays proved critical. Road journeys to casualty units took up to an hour, whereas a helicopter can fly anywhere in Wiltshire in around ten minutes. Sometimes neighbouring air ambulance services helped out, but an inside source told the Eye the prolonged lack of its own helicopter at WAA "cost lives", though they could not say how many and in what circumstances. A bland statement from the CAA ignored all the Eye's questions about the causes of the delay and the failure to prioritise a lifeline service. "We liaised with Wiltshire Air Ambulance Trust during the application process and, on several occasions, needed to ask them for additional information to support their original application. The process is now complete, and the company has its AOC," it said. WAA finally resumed flying in November. It has now made a formal complaint to the CAA, and told the Eye it was constantly passed from pillar to post, unable to deal with the same official. "It's impossible to calculate how many times we tried chasing them up," a spokesman said. WAA chief executive David Philpott said that the CAA constantly complained of being "too busy". "Our point was that all the time we're not flying, lives are at risk," he said. "We have made our anger known".


Well... Whatever their operational challenges it's clear to see that WAA's PR department is operating at full speed (or should that be full spin!?)

Good deflection!

[jeepys]

And the quote ‘The second, bizarrely, related to consumer protection, despite WAA being a charity and not a commercial operation’.

Surely this quote shows the inexperience of the originator as the regulator will want to afford a casualty the same level of protection as a fare paying passenger in terms of standards.

[nigelh]

“For all the negative parts of the CAA it must be said they are a top class regulator” ...........

Hilarious !!!! Where are you living ???!!!! They are a totally ineffectual bunch of bureaucrats intent on putting the final nail into the GA coffin . Why do you think 90% of private helicopter owners do not operate within the aoc rules ?? Why are 90% of all revenue single engine flights non aoc ?? I am now waiting for months on end to get my 505 onto an aoc and I am expecting it to be short lived !!

[jeepys]

“For all the negative parts of the CAA it must be said they are a top class regulator” ...........

Hilarious !!!! Where are you living ???!!!! They are a totally ineffectual bunch of bureaucrats intent on putting the final nail into the GA coffin . Why do you think 90% of private helicopter owners do not operate within the aoc rules ?? Why are 90% of all revenue single engine flights non aoc ?? I am now waiting for months on end to get my 505 onto an aoc and I am expecting it to be short lived !!

Nigel, I agree the CAA are no good for promoting business and in many cases it seems they are intent on ruining business which is what you may be referring to but my point was that their interest lies with protecting the customer/passenger.

[ShyTorque]

Why do you think 90% of private helicopter owners do not operate within the aoc rules ??

If that was meant as it reads, I'd take a guess that it's probably because AOC rules don't apply to private flights.

[nigelh]

Shy .... as we all know ANY flight can be a “ private” flight !! In fact there is almost no need for anyone to have an aoc other than for random ad hoc charters .
Most people that charter do so more than once so are perfectly able to buy a block of hours and do all their flights as private flights and thereby opening up the ability to fly into Battersea for instance in a non float equipped single . I don’t know any operator who specifically does not want to have an aoc .... they just find it impossible to operate as a small company, maybe with one aircraft, with one !!! My prediction years ago of no small companies having their single on an aoc has almost arrived. I’m going to give it another go , having tried before , but I am not hopeful as 90% of my business is likely to be lease .
The future for most pilots I know is all freelance and not on aoc .

[ShyTorque]

I don’t know any operator who specifically does not want to have an aoc

The last two operators I have worked for (almost twenty years now) didn't want an AOC. But they were/are truly private operators.

[homonculus]

The CAA is a part of the civil service. Some of its employees are jolly nice people but the oganisation is bureaucratic, expensive and has no mandate to support or help aviation. IMHO the worst aspect is its refusal to change even when it admits its facts are outdated.

Having worked an AOC for medical use I am well aware the CAA considers the patient to be a fare paying passenger, but it has no interest in them otherwise and increases their risk by some of its intransigence.

So no I wouldnt agree they are a top class regulator. Indeed I dont see how you can judge a monopoly. That said the company involved seems to have burnt through money. I am well known for my views that a fundamental part of the NHS should be funded by the NHS and audited to ensure it is necessary and provides value for money - an analysis that needs to be regularly repeated as medicine and the country's ability to pay changes. However, whilst this suboptimal charitable basis continues without any audit or oversight of efficacy it is important that the trustees and management are held to account. They are of course welcome to respond.

[EESDL]

Increased demand for WAA .... (https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/increased-demand-for-wiltshire-air-ambulance-in-2019/?utm_source=vertical-daily-news-todays-news&utm_campaign=vertical-daily-news&utm_medium=email&utm_term=todays-news&utm_content=V1)
WAA - please please please tone down the embarrassing PR rubbish you are churning out.
Who are you trying to fool?
Wishing the unit every success for the future but making headlines which indicates that your helicopter has seen increased demand does you no credit when you consider that 75% of callouts were by road.........Wiltshire Air Ambulance experiences increased demand in 2019

[[email protected]]

They should change their name to Wiltshire Ambulance...:)

[Hedski]

Have to love that PR spin in private eye. WAA were offered the use of an extant Uk B429 AOC to facilitate their operations to continue. They instead refused this and leased at greater cost an MD902 from an outside contractor. The pure brass neck to blame the CAA for their self imposed grounding is astonishing. But I suppose that’s the type of person that takes charity money for themselves as a 6 digit sum. Well all HEMS charities have that problem and each has its own forms of corruption. Either way is the AOC issue just spin or full bore lies?

[Dai Whirlybird]

...... making headlines which indicates that your helicopter has seen increased demand does you no credit when you consider that 75% of callouts were by road.........

Paradoxically, this kind of PR spin could lead to a suggestion that... the Ambulance Service's tasking process - when relieved of the "aircraft tasking criteria" due to no aircraft availability and road response only, is at liberty to make more frequent use of the Paramedics (and more specifically their elevated skill-set) that are seconded to the Air Ambulance.

When looked at from the punter's perspective it could be argued that they're generally getting more frequent access to the Critical Care Paramedics when the aircraft is unavailable.

[homonculus]

Except that NHS ambulance services normally operate their own rapid response vehicles crewed with paramedics or prehospital care practitioners. Unless Wiltshire NHS Ambulance Trust is unusual, the NHS is already providing this service. It may be that the air ambulance charity provides a doctor some or all of the time, but he/she must be the most expensive doctor on the planet at these prices!!! Several NHS ambulance trusts also have doctors in some rapid response vehicles where the cost is little more than the doctor's salary.....

Which leads me to ask exactly what has this charity been adding to patient care.....

[Professor Bublinsky]

All their woes were self-induced.