2 Crew on B300 for Pelair VIC RFDS
 

I understand that Pelair propose to use King Air B300s (350s) for their yet-to-be-commenced Victorian RFDS contract.

Given the MTOW (I think it may be over 5700kgs) will they be using 2 crew??? Maybe they will get a statutory exemption?

It may also depend on the amount of pax seats

I think you will find that it really depends on the minimum crew required in the AFM. Quite a few B350's are flown single pilot.
Also maybe any contract requirements for multi crew. I doubt that there are any.
Lastly a serviceable autopilot IAW CAO 20.18. I suspect a new B350 will have this and a very reliable and capable one at that.
More than likely these aircraft will be operated single pilot except for training and check flights.
A MTOW above 5700 KG does not in itself create a requirement for 2 crew. The aircraft certification for the minimum crew numbers will be the starting point then you have to consider a number of other factors. (rules plastered over multiple CAO's CAR's Ops manuals etc).

'pcx' is correct, 2 crew are not needed for this type of Ops. Besides the added costs would be cost prohibitive for such a contract, simply not needed, the B350 after all is just another aero-plane no diff other than the obvious to the 200/300 series.
'Till the end of the line we at the RFDS will continue to do the job. I've not seen a more professional team than at the EN base.We have the best facilities, the best job & the best crew, I guess nothing that good lasts 4ever!:sad: It will be a sad day after more than 11 yrs (at contract end) to finally park them for good, such is life.

Wmk2

Wally is there any truth to the rumour that you might be moving on this year?

Regards The Dog

Thanks for the feedback and comments. I'm looking to return to flying and a career change and thought a FO position on a B350 might be an option.
Alas, I'll just have to spend more money and time on experience and compete to get a casual gig flying freight at night on a PA31.

Are they going to retain the RFDS pilots for the Pelair contract, or will Pelair source crews from their own ranks?

I expect that there might be some specific min pilot hours within the contract for Pelair to meet, not to mention their insurance requirements.

I was told not to bother with Air Ambulance until I can get 3000+ hours.

Well, back to the training, maybe one day...

"The Best" - if you say so!
 

“I've not seen a more professional team than at the EN base.We have the best facilities, the best job & the best crew, I guess nothing that good lasts 4ever!”

A parochial sentiment perhaps……………….???? The last part of your statement is true!:ok:

My understanding Pelair will use the humble B200. Too many destinations wiped out by the PCN with the B300's. Also the B300 are a bit of a waste in Victoria, unless the Air Ambulance Victoria want to jam 'em with as much little used equipment and storage as they can :rolleyes:. Two crew may still be a possibility with REX using this to transition their cadet's to the left seat to gain those command hours.
My belief is that Pelair wont offer each and every RFDS pilot a job. They will advertise publicly and may go something like "expressions of interest" then lead to "seeking applicants" to interviews and finally a position will be offered, if they are succesful.

C'mon Wally are the rumours true? What's gunna happen to all that proffesionalism when your gone?

ps. re: the new facilitiies - I am sick of how many doors to swipe and stairs to climb to get from one room to the next. I miss the old clanger on the southern side :(

...........now come on 'cat' let us not give away too many secrets here, after all this is a rumor network & it might just be a rumor that we have lost the contract, although pigs don't fly either now do they?:} Am sure the new operators will hand select the cream of the cream amongst my work colleges, why do ya reckon some of us might go b4 hand? Never liked cream anyway!:} The RFDS will go on, no better institution I reckon but it won't go on for all:sad:
Me not sayin' too much 'ere, gunna have to let it all become public thru other channels:)
As for the new digs? Well we gotta have security right? After all what surrounds the whole airport? A soft metal chain link fence you could cut with a pair of $2 wire cutters!:ugh: Safety at any port is as safe as it's weakest link!

Wmk2

I heard Wally is heading to Tas to take over as chief pilot :}

B350 Kingair
 

Guys,

You are all kind of correct. B350 AFM limitations state only one pilot required. The killer for Aero Med is that it will not be able to operate into a lot of ALA's due to the requirements of CAO 20.7.1B. and that CAO applies to any operator be they private, Aerial work or otherwise. I won't go into a lot of detail other than to say it is possible to operate into dirt strips that are short but they will have to be surveyed and there will be a large performance, (weight), penalty.

Groggy

I heard they were sending him out to Living Legends, so he could eat hay and watch the aircrat land at Tulla!:}

..................now now you guys go easy on Wally, am becoming an endanger d species ya know!:} "HH" I've done my penance out at Tulla watching planes fueling them for 13 yrs, was time to keep my hands clean, wear a white shirt & make big bucks for a change, well 2 out of 3 ain't bad!:)




Wmk2

For information...

A B300 is a B200 airframe with the engines from a B350; ie, same take-off weight as a B200. Interestingly, A B200 Endorsement covers the B300, but not the B350.

A B350 has a take-off weight higher than 5700 kgs, and as mentioned earlier, puts it into a more limiting category for regulation ( CAO 20.7.1b commuter). Never got to fly a B300, not sure if there's ever been one in Oz, but it would have been glorious to fly.

If it's Beech, Boeing or Brazilian, I'm In.

Leatherdog.

Pelair deal signed
 

Media Release

rex subsidiary pel-air awarded air ambulance victoria tender

Regional Express (Rex) today announced that wholly-owned subsidiary Pel-Air has inked an agreement with the Victorian State Government for the provision of Fixed Wing Patient Transport Services.

This follows the announcement in July 2009 that Pel-Air was selected as the conditional preferred tenderer. The 10-year contract will commence in mid-2011 and entails the supply of fixed-wing air transport to Ambulance Victoria for medical evacuation of patients to and from regional areas. Details of the contract remain confidential.

Jim Davis, Managing Director of Regional Express, commented today that “Pel-Air is extremely proud to have been selected by the Victorian Government to carry out this important contract. It is gratifying to have our expertise in this area recognised in this fashion and we look forward to working with Ambulance Victoria over the next ten years to supply a first class patient transport service.”


<snip>

Wally,

You should head north for a change of scenery. Better money than Vic, great lifestyle, a whole fleet of proline 21's and our state gov just told pelair where to jam it.

Impulse operated the B1900C single pilot on freight.

Any truth in the rumour that REX are going to rotate the SAAB captains through the air ambulance operation?

Any truth in the rumour that REX are going to rotate the SAAB captains through the air ambulance operation?

Sounds like a good story, Pel barely have enough Captains SAAB or otherwise now and if they did try it two words spring immediately to mind :mad:, if I wanted to fly aeromed I would already be doing it.