Northern Territory Aeromed Contract
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No need to get nasty people.....be cool!
I started this thread as a rumour. Ok, so the rumour turned out to be fact! Now I'm sure the people at Careflight aren't appreciating the attacks they are receiving here as well as the Pearl Aircraft and possibly management. Note that the incumbent crews are not included. I know that aircraft don't really know what is going on but I'm sure you get my jist. (No smart arsed comments here)
You're making your identities very obvious by the comments in these posts and it's really amusing - but grow up please!!
The NT Government has a lot to answer for here and I wish they would get involved in this thread. It would seem the NTG has done no consultation nor research into this and that the Cornish report should've been used as toilet paper.
Here's some facts:
Pearl's aircraft are old and maintenance intensive.
No-one is irreplaceable - ie. pilots are pilots. You guys at Pearl are not the gods of aviation you might think you are!
It does however take on average 6 -8 months to train an aeromed/medivac pilot.
Aeromed/medivac nursing and medical staff require around 2 weeks of OJT in the air as well as training on the ground as required by the regulator as cabin crew.
Aircraft must be VH registered and be refitted (though I don't know what fit the ex Norway A/C were in. Must not come up to spec.)
Aircraft must have all AD's completed.
All aircraft require unscheduled maintenance.
All operators require a place of business with which to hang up their AOC.
Old operators should look after their contracts a little better!!!!!
What do you think people?? Are the NTG dreaming here with their puny budget and cowboy attitude? For 6 months???? You gotta be kidding
NTG clowns, you guys are in dreamtime
You're making your identities very obvious by the comments in these posts and it's really amusing - but grow up please!!
The NT Government has a lot to answer for here and I wish they would get involved in this thread. It would seem the NTG has done no consultation nor research into this and that the Cornish report should've been used as toilet paper.
Here's some facts:
Pearl's aircraft are old and maintenance intensive.
No-one is irreplaceable - ie. pilots are pilots. You guys at Pearl are not the gods of aviation you might think you are!
It does however take on average 6 -8 months to train an aeromed/medivac pilot.
Aeromed/medivac nursing and medical staff require around 2 weeks of OJT in the air as well as training on the ground as required by the regulator as cabin crew.
Aircraft must be VH registered and be refitted (though I don't know what fit the ex Norway A/C were in. Must not come up to spec.)
Aircraft must have all AD's completed.
All aircraft require unscheduled maintenance.
All operators require a place of business with which to hang up their AOC.
Old operators should look after their contracts a little better!!!!!
What do you think people?? Are the NTG dreaming here with their puny budget and cowboy attitude? For 6 months???? You gotta be kidding
NTG clowns, you guys are in dreamtime
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Skidmark
I have never been one to hide my ID on this site. Those who know me, well, know me.
To clarify,
"You guys at Pearl are not the gods of aviation you might think you are!"
Your statement above is very far off the mark, you have a jaundiced view of the crews you so happily slam. you also state to grow up.
Your own medicine please.
Pearl Av employees are not able to provide detail on the operation on their employer. Contractual obligation.
The public need to know the truth so the most workable outcome is enabled. Basically do it the best way possible to get the job done safely and legally. Do this and a higher probability of positive patient outcomes is generated.
If this means a different operator, so be it. Money or political play should not be a factor. The cheapest bid is just that, cheap, best outcome?
I have never been one to hide my ID on this site. Those who know me, well, know me.
To clarify,
"You guys at Pearl are not the gods of aviation you might think you are!"
Your statement above is very far off the mark, you have a jaundiced view of the crews you so happily slam. you also state to grow up.
Your own medicine please.
Pearl Av employees are not able to provide detail on the operation on their employer. Contractual obligation.
The public need to know the truth so the most workable outcome is enabled. Basically do it the best way possible to get the job done safely and legally. Do this and a higher probability of positive patient outcomes is generated.
If this means a different operator, so be it. Money or political play should not be a factor. The cheapest bid is just that, cheap, best outcome?
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Maxgrad
I don't think you read my post with the intention as for it to be read! As would appear you have commented my "jaundiced" view of Pearl pilots is but a minor piece of the the whole picture.
I will reitterate. It takes 6-8 months to train one such pilot to the standard as YOU no doubt possess. NOTE THE TIME FRAME!!!
The NTG has not afforded the participants involved in this debate a reasonable time frame to ready themselves for a 6 month stint at the helm.
Back to the Pearl pilots. You guys should be commended if not for simply hanging in there till the bell tolls but for all your trials with outdated A/C and an outdated EBA. But you are replaceable! It just takes a long time to replace you.
I don't think you read my post with the intention as for it to be read! As would appear you have commented my "jaundiced" view of Pearl pilots is but a minor piece of the the whole picture.
I will reitterate. It takes 6-8 months to train one such pilot to the standard as YOU no doubt possess. NOTE THE TIME FRAME!!!
The NTG has not afforded the participants involved in this debate a reasonable time frame to ready themselves for a 6 month stint at the helm.
Back to the Pearl pilots. You guys should be commended if not for simply hanging in there till the bell tolls but for all your trials with outdated A/C and an outdated EBA. But you are replaceable! It just takes a long time to replace you.
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Fitted with, Ram Air Recovery System, Short Field Enhancement, Dual Aft Body Strakes, Hartzell/Raisbeck Quiet Turbofan Propellor Kit with Auto Feather, Brake de-Ice System, Freon Air Conditioning, High Floatation landing gear...all as per their For Sale sheet on the net.
I doubt they would have HF radios - but I'm sure these would be installed at YMEN.
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to purchase/lease those aircraft, ramp up all the crew.. set up the facilities etc based on a 6 month contract for an operator not currently in the game....
one of two options here....
the NTG just forked out enough $$ for a 4 year contract at least... or...
the future contract is a done deal..
even the NTG has to be accountable to some respect....... option 2 is my bet..
one of two options here....
the NTG just forked out enough $$ for a 4 year contract at least... or...
the future contract is a done deal..
even the NTG has to be accountable to some respect....... option 2 is my bet..
You guys at Pearl are not the gods of aviation you might think you are!
even the NTG has to be accountable to some respect...
from the failed pearl operation
The "failure" you speak of is firmly with the planning and management of the service by the NT Health Department. You are obviously a fanboy of Careflight, for some reason, and have all the ignorant opinion that Govt agenda seeks to cultivate on the matter. I have no experience with Careflight, but I cannot believe that they believe that what they are proposing, will work. If it does, good luck to 'em!
Good luck Careflight, well done for stepping up where no one else will
I'm not going to waste time typing the AVALANCHE of accounts of the behaviour I have seen personally from the NT Govt, but I can safely say that nothing will surprise me any more!! What surprises me is that they can sleep at night, and that they get away with it.
SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
Pearl, in it's current (or earlier - Skywest) form have been doing this work for how many years?
What has changed in that time? (hint - lots, both in aviation and NT Health Dept.)
Why exactly isn't the service now operating into Tindal at night? (hint - don't look to the NT News for information on this one...)
Who identified, and tried to solve the aging aircraft fleet issues first?
Who is a commercial organisation, with a right to supply and be paid (only) for what they supply?
Who decides how, and in what aircraft, the service will be provided to "the good people" of the NT? (thought I'd throw in an EASY one for ya Natbanger!)
Who needs to blame someone else when things go bad, so they don't jeopardise votes?
It's a grubby business from start to finish when you're dealing with politicians...
CR.
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Oh dear
Natbangar
Are you sure about that? A quick check of the CASA aircraft register revealed the following.
VH-NTE BB-529 1979
VH-NTG BL-09 1980
VH-NTH BL-12 1980
VH-NTS BL-30 1981
Not sure how you would know that but I will take your word for it. The King Air is a great aircraft but like any aircraft of that type is fairly maintenance intensive especially in the tropics. Incidently it doesn't take much to ground an IFR aeromed aircraft pressurisation problems, airconditioning & wx radar come to mind items that ordinarily wouldn't be a problem for other airwork or charter operations. I have also flown King Airs with significantly less hours than these aircraft from Norway which believe it or not went U/S on a regular basis. So I hope Ausjet have good maintenance support because they will need it.
Which provider are you talking about CareFlight NSW or AusJet? If it's CareFlight NSW then I know about their experience in the rotary world but how much fixed wing aeromed experience in the NT do they have? Likewise how much aeromed experience do Ausjet have?
More to the point what checks & balances have been put in place to ensure that another Norfolk Is ditching fiasco doesn't occur & who faces the music if things go pear shaped?
Yes to the first ques & no to the second, but have worked as an aeromed pilot. So I have a bit of an idea of the size of the task ahead & take my hat off to CF & AJ for taking it on.
Did any other operator get look in?
ryvita interesting first post
If these "late model King Airs" are as others are saying 93 models then 20 years newer is a bit of an embelishment don't you think?
Not sure what the relevance of that is on a topic about aeromedical services?
A bit lite on in the facts department most of what you said has been common knowledge for some time.
As a taxpayer & potential end user of aeromed services I have very serious concerns about the way the aeromed industry is going, in general not just the NT, the Norfolk Is ditching & the Vic/TAS aeromed tender are cases in point.
I also have concerns how state & federal governments oversee contracts in general, the recent insulation debacle is but one example. The scheme was fairly hastlily conceived and poorly implemented with not much oversight and the results speak for themselves
I sincerely hope that all goes well up there & my concerns are unfounded.
Current service are mid 70's machines
VH-NTE BB-529 1979
VH-NTG BL-09 1980
VH-NTH BL-12 1980
VH-NTS BL-30 1981
mostly currently unservicable.
Is the service still going to be run by a provider with a solid 25 year history of the same? Yes
More to the point what checks & balances have been put in place to ensure that another Norfolk Is ditching fiasco doesn't occur & who faces the music if things go pear shaped?
Have any of you owned a GA operation or run a vital health service?? Didn't think so............
Good luck Careflight, well done for stepping up where no one else will.
ryvita interesting first post
All this is very interesting, however the reality is this supposed company with no money has just purchased 4 late model Kingairs from the largest Aeromed operator in Europe that are 20 years newer than the existing service. Not bad from a company with no money????
Didn't these guys have 727's and 2 DC9's ?????
People the facts are this:
As a taxpayer & potential end user of aeromed services I have very serious concerns about the way the aeromed industry is going, in general not just the NT, the Norfolk Is ditching & the Vic/TAS aeromed tender are cases in point.
I also have concerns how state & federal governments oversee contracts in general, the recent insulation debacle is but one example. The scheme was fairly hastlily conceived and poorly implemented with not much oversight and the results speak for themselves
I sincerely hope that all goes well up there & my concerns are unfounded.
Last edited by betaman; 5th Jun 2010 at 10:17.
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Natbanger, brother to Ryvita
Are any of you brave enough to use your real names here?? Didn't think so..........
Everybody knows Maxgrad. He's a F##KING LEGEND.
DD
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Anybody know why the RFDS quote for the the "interim contract" was rejected..?
I mean .. they must have been approached right...?? as the countries leading/largest Aeromed operator and all....
Oh wait .. this is the land of intervention and all...!
I mean .. they must have been approached right...?? as the countries leading/largest Aeromed operator and all....
Oh wait .. this is the land of intervention and all...!
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I spoke to some guys at Care Flight but couldn't get any sense out of them. Either they didn't know themselves, or they just don't want girls flying for them.
Can anyone tell me;
what they are paying and what sort of hours the pilots are expected to do?
Do pilots have to wash and help maintain the aircraft?
What experience requirements do they have?
Do they have the special lifters that the Pearl aircraft have? If not how do they get the people in and out?
Can anyone tell me;
what they are paying and what sort of hours the pilots are expected to do?
Do pilots have to wash and help maintain the aircraft?
What experience requirements do they have?
Do they have the special lifters that the Pearl aircraft have? If not how do they get the people in and out?
NTChicky
All good questions, and discussed here already... Either your post is a wind up, or...
Don't expect straight answers, and you'll be fine. Do what they seem to expect - just sign up and worry about it all later (For what might be a six month job only, too! Or do they know something we all don't )
Ha ha ha ha it cracks me up!
CR.
All good questions, and discussed here already... Either your post is a wind up, or...
Don't expect straight answers, and you'll be fine. Do what they seem to expect - just sign up and worry about it all later
(For what might be a six month job only, too! Or do they know something we all don't )Ha ha ha ha it cracks me up!
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All pretty quiet on the NT aeromed front last few months:mad,
Any idea of when the new contract is to be awarded, I heard the Careflight interim service has been very "interesting" and perhaps less availability than the old Pearl service ever was.
Any idea of when the new contract is to be awarded, I heard the Careflight interim service has been very "interesting" and perhaps less availability than the old Pearl service ever was.
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Just an observation
'People' tell me that the incumbent are moving twice the number of people per week. But 'People' say a lot, talk is cheap and I am not privy to the stats.
As well as this, I hear them utilising a chartered conquest from time to time to move several non urgent cases at a time, thus sharing the love with some local operators. From where I sit that would be a good move since a lot operators in the NT are actively trying to obstruct the operation. Heaven forbid one of the relatives of these operators ever need medical assistance in remote NT. I guess there is no emotion in business, win at all costs
Interesting that one of the HA pilots is on here actively bagging out CF when they are putting a good amount of $$$ into conquest hire from that very company. Small industry old mate advise caution.
Skydrol, I have no idea if my info on stats is any better than yours however I do find the subject very interesting (I don't get out much) , so if you have any more please keep us informed.
As far as an announcement goes, my guess is we will see the interim extended six months at a time for 2 to 4 years from its inception. I will bet you one whole dollar that it goes for at least 3 years
BTW, 'They' tell me the AOC is finalised and the changeover is imminent. Anyone?
DD
As well as this, I hear them utilising a chartered conquest from time to time to move several non urgent cases at a time, thus sharing the love with some local operators. From where I sit that would be a good move since a lot operators in the NT are actively trying to obstruct the operation. Heaven forbid one of the relatives of these operators ever need medical assistance in remote NT. I guess there is no emotion in business, win at all costs
Interesting that one of the HA pilots is on here actively bagging out CF when they are putting a good amount of $$$ into conquest hire from that very company. Small industry old mate
advise caution.Skydrol, I have no idea if my info on stats is any better than yours however I do find the subject very interesting (I don't get out much)
, so if you have any more please keep us informed.As far as an announcement goes, my guess is we will see the interim extended six months at a time for 2 to 4 years from its inception. I will bet you one whole dollar that it goes for at least 3 years
BTW, 'They' tell me the AOC is finalised and the changeover is imminent. Anyone?
DD
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DWD - just an observation, but didn't you bag out only in the last couple of weeks, people coming here and posting things 'that they'd heard' or what 'people had told them'?
Yet, here you are, doing exactly the same thing. Just an observation of course.
Here's a fact ... the interim contractor is not currently moving double what the former NTAMS people did. THAT, I can promise you, is a fallacy.
If there is a chartered aircraft being tossed into the mix by them, that'd be to cover the contract shortfall due to u/s aircraft.
Yet, here you are, doing exactly the same thing. Just an observation of course.
Here's a fact ... the interim contractor is not currently moving double what the former NTAMS people did. THAT, I can promise you, is a fallacy.
If there is a chartered aircraft being tossed into the mix by them, that'd be to cover the contract shortfall due to u/s aircraft.
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I was intending to ask a question instead of make a statement, however after re reading my post I must say you have a point. Cryptic speaking has lead me to be unclear and candid and for this I do apologise.
The Voice, can you tell me or can anyone else tell me the number of people currently being moved and the number of people that were transported under the old regime? or even better tell me where I could see it for myself if it is available to the public.
I am not looking for an argument, just a bit of info.
I don't want to join a mindless rock throwing at CF if it is not justified, I also do not subscribe to the comments made by Ryvita and Natbanger about Pearl Pilots thinking themselves as "Sky Gods" of the NT, I think thta comment alone has brought a truckload of bad feeling against CF.
Just a few stats and I and I will leave you alone,,, I Promise
DD
The Voice, can you tell me or can anyone else tell me the number of people currently being moved and the number of people that were transported under the old regime? or even better tell me where I could see it for myself if it is available to the public.
I am not looking for an argument, just a bit of info.
I don't want to join a mindless rock throwing at CF if it is not justified, I also do not subscribe to the comments made by Ryvita and Natbanger about Pearl Pilots thinking themselves as "Sky Gods" of the NT, I think thta comment alone has brought a truckload of bad feeling against CF.
Just a few stats and I and I will leave you alone,,, I Promise
DD
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Aero-med services 'not up to scratch'
Aero-med services 'not up to scratch' | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au
Counter to Mr Cahill's assertion that the response data is commercial-in-confidence, I would think that the public interest test would see the data as releasable under the NT Freedom of Information provisions.
Freedom of Information - Office of Information Comissioner Northern Territory
Would it not?
Counter to Mr Cahill's assertion that the response data is commercial-in-confidence, I would think that the public interest test would see the data as releasable under the NT Freedom of Information provisions.
Freedom of Information - Office of Information Comissioner Northern Territory
Would it not?