Pel Air to run NSW Air Ambulance
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Well contract goes to tender and operators put in their best proposal before the state government chooses the cheapest option.
That’s how it works usually and I doubt this is any different. Can’t have the more expensive but highly qualified RFDS retaining the contract when there is the cheaper PelAir🤔
That’s how it works usually and I doubt this is any different. Can’t have the more expensive but highly qualified RFDS retaining the contract when there is the cheaper PelAir🤔
From the smh:
What aircraft did the RFDS put up against a B350?
A new fleet of NSW Ambulance aircraft, likened to “hospitals in the sky”, will take flight next month.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the new planes would improve transport speeds and reach more areas of the state.
The five new Beechcraft King Air 350C planes will be operated and maintained by airline Pel-Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings Limited (REX), under a 10-year contract.
The aircraft will begin flying on January 1 and will replace the current fleet operated out of the Mascot airbase by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“These aircraft are like hospitals in the sky, and they can get to some of the most remote regions of the state and land at both commercial airports and smaller runways,” Mr Toole said.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said the medical fit-out on board was tailored to clinicians’ needs and could pick up more than 6000 patients every year.
“Our flight nurses, doctors and pilots are among the best in the country and they helped in the design of what is essentially their office,” Dr Morgan said.
“Their expertise and some of the best planes available means it is a perfect fit for everyone, especially our patients.”
Senior flight nurse Chris Wildey said it was an exciting change for the ambulance service that would improve its capability.
“We have the ability to travel a lot higher and faster,” he said. “We have the ability to do our special missions far better.”
He said staff helped design the cabin fit-outs, including the addition of windows so patients can enjoy views from the plane.
“That’s really good from a patient point of view when they’re feeling pretty ordinary and having an otherwise sub-optimal experience,” he said.
The contract with Pel-Air ends Ambulance NSW’s 19-year partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the new planes would improve transport speeds and reach more areas of the state.
The five new Beechcraft King Air 350C planes will be operated and maintained by airline Pel-Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings Limited (REX), under a 10-year contract.
The aircraft will begin flying on January 1 and will replace the current fleet operated out of the Mascot airbase by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“These aircraft are like hospitals in the sky, and they can get to some of the most remote regions of the state and land at both commercial airports and smaller runways,” Mr Toole said.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said the medical fit-out on board was tailored to clinicians’ needs and could pick up more than 6000 patients every year.
“Our flight nurses, doctors and pilots are among the best in the country and they helped in the design of what is essentially their office,” Dr Morgan said.
“Their expertise and some of the best planes available means it is a perfect fit for everyone, especially our patients.”
Senior flight nurse Chris Wildey said it was an exciting change for the ambulance service that would improve its capability.
“We have the ability to travel a lot higher and faster,” he said. “We have the ability to do our special missions far better.”
He said staff helped design the cabin fit-outs, including the addition of windows so patients can enjoy views from the plane.
“That’s really good from a patient point of view when they’re feeling pretty ordinary and having an otherwise sub-optimal experience,” he said.
The contract with Pel-Air ends Ambulance NSW’s 19-year partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
He said staff helped design the cabin fit-outs, including the addition of windows so patients can enjoy views from the plane.
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Hopefully things may have improved over the years. Having been employed by a very reputable company and doing call out work for Pel Air I still shudder at some of their maintenance practices. At the same time we also did work with the Air Ambulance when the maintenance was carried out by East West. It was like chalk and cheese.
Notwithstanding operational / equipment issues, the main factor for the pilot community is that the pilots employed on this contact have the same or better salary and conditions than those on the previous contract. Anyone know?
[QUOTE=drpixie;11163270]Know a few people ... significantly worse conditions and salary ... plenty have gone (some elsewhere, some just gone).[/QUOTE
Agreed! I know a couple of pilots who have moved on due significantly worse salary and conditions. No surprise though considering who owns Pel-Air…..
Agreed! I know a couple of pilots who have moved on due significantly worse salary and conditions. No surprise though considering who owns Pel-Air…..
No different when the RFDS took over the contract from Pearl.
The Pearl guys had to start over again on first year wages on the RFDS EBA, plus the loss of sick leave you had built up, long service leave entitlements etc.
A mate worked on the NSW Air Ambulance contract in the mid 80’s, as he said very good money, good conditions, top notch equipment, experienced check and training people plus seniority number in Ansett.
The Pearl guys had to start over again on first year wages on the RFDS EBA, plus the loss of sick leave you had built up, long service leave entitlements etc.
A mate worked on the NSW Air Ambulance contract in the mid 80’s, as he said very good money, good conditions, top notch equipment, experienced check and training people plus seniority number in Ansett.
No different when the RFDS took over the contract from Pearl.
The Pearl guys had to start over again on first year wages on the RFDS EBA, plus the loss of sick leave you had built up, long service leave entitlements etc.
A mate worked on the NSW Air Ambulance contract in the mid 80’s, as he said very good money, good conditions, top notch equipment, experienced check and training people plus seniority number in Ansett.
The Pearl guys had to start over again on first year wages on the RFDS EBA, plus the loss of sick leave you had built up, long service leave entitlements etc.
A mate worked on the NSW Air Ambulance contract in the mid 80’s, as he said very good money, good conditions, top notch equipment, experienced check and training people plus seniority number in Ansett.
If that is the case, I will bet a sheep farm that the other all the employees that work on the government side of this aero medical service will not be subject to an equivalent reduction to their pay and conditions. If the ambulance commissioner, management underlings and the responsible minister had even the slight shred of moral, ethical and human decency then they should all take an equivalent reduction in their salary and conditions. AeroMedical flying is one of the most demanding piloting jobs in aviation, far far in excess of some bureaucrat bearing a title and some bling attached to a uniform. An absolutely appalling situation!
If they have no prior experience in AeroMedical operations they might be in for a big shock especially if the pay and conditions are as poor as some indicate. You would have to be an aviation tragic to do that sort of a job for low pay and poor conditions.