What's happening at MD Helicopters?
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Yes, OK, I need to be more precise. The company at EGBJ has sole rights to sell MD products to the "utility market" covering law enforcement and EMS. They cannot sell to corporate or private customers, and hence another company in the Sunny South at EGKA sells to that market place, including new MD902s (eg the dark green one based at Redhill).
TC - I'd like to add something to your notes earlier "not one single operator has complained about the product". I think this is incorrect, although it depends how you want to read this public document from the West Midlands Police Authority website.
Para 2.3 states "The current aircraft has begun to suffer higher unavailability rates as a result of maintenance issues." Is this normal for a 6-year old and 5,500 hour machine, or a general statement of the situation MD got their customers into under the old management?
TC - I'd like to add something to your notes earlier "not one single operator has complained about the product". I think this is incorrect, although it depends how you want to read this public document from the West Midlands Police Authority website.
Para 2.3 states "The current aircraft has begun to suffer higher unavailability rates as a result of maintenance issues." Is this normal for a 6-year old and 5,500 hour machine, or a general statement of the situation MD got their customers into under the old management?
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
In 1992, Eastern Atlantic set out to be the premiere helicopter distributor for Enstrom and MD Helicopters in the UK and Europe.
Mmmmm....
Our bonded store contains around £1 million of approved stock, but if we haven’t got it – we can get it. Contact our Parts Manager Ian Cosham by email or phone with the part number and he will be happy to help.
SS
Ppheli:
Didn't know about EGKA is that Robinson!
The W Mids issue revolves soley around spares and logistics and NOT the helicopter perse.
Sil:
Never heard of them...do they still exist or is this an old ad?
[Just saw their web site??? - speaks for itself really. How do you take a helicopter company seriously when they use Schrek pictures in amongst their PR???]
Could you imagine buying a sophisticated 902 off these guys???
Didn't know about EGKA is that Robinson!
The W Mids issue revolves soley around spares and logistics and NOT the helicopter perse.
Sil:
Never heard of them...do they still exist or is this an old ad?
[Just saw their web site??? - speaks for itself really. How do you take a helicopter company seriously when they use Schrek pictures in amongst their PR???]
Could you imagine buying a sophisticated 902 off these guys???
Thread Starter
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Those UK based Ppruners surely will have heard of Eastern Atlantic Helicopters based at Shoreham and are MD and Enstrom people. Simon Oliphant-Hope flew an MD round the world and holds the record. So I am surprised that his company is not better known all over UK. Obviously not according to the comments above.
Interesting to learn that Dennis Kenyons preferred helicopter is an MD 500. To loose such a brand as MD would do the industry no good.
Interesting to learn that Dennis Kenyons preferred helicopter is an MD 500. To loose such a brand as MD would do the industry no good.
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As customers with a 900 we are increasingly worried about spares shortages, spares out of production, no mechanical updates to old old problems. At least we had a spokesman with the MD at PAS who would fight for us. Now we just seem to have inherited the problem with the new MD. Yikes! Help!!!
I have to jump in here and defend ECD's track record. Normally, it is exemplary [16 x135 operators testify to this] but of late there has been a global rush of MGB suspension pots and certain local suppliers failed to stay abreast of the trend.
The other issue is the time it takes to turn round rotor blades which is unacceptable but manageable.
IF this cash injection by Patriarch doesn't improve things - the MD900 series is doomed methinks.
The other issue is the time it takes to turn round rotor blades which is unacceptable but manageable.
IF this cash injection by Patriarch doesn't improve things - the MD900 series is doomed methinks.
Join Date: May 2001
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RE MD Distributor Eastern atlantic helicopters shoreham
They are md authorised distributors the other being PAS [who i believe are or was owned by RDM who owned mdhi ] and also they are also the main sole enstrom dealer
They have sold at least 10 md 600s at least 4 900s [2 to friends of mine],3/4 md520s and a number of 500s also double numbers of enstrom 480s and pistons including 12 ex chilian airframes and a number of jetboxes and various others . I dont work there so i dont know the exact numbers but these are ones i know
i have personally bought 6 helicopters from this company over a numer of years
As a private pilot non cpl i have completed rating courses on the 500 520 600 900 at The Mdhi factory at mesa the md range in my mind is second to none and it will be a great shame if the company doesnt pull through there problems and i wish them all a Forward looking 2006.
If the only measure of your company is by your website i suppose my company must also speak for it self really
tc
whats a shreck picture is it good or bad ,dont waste your time looking for my website i tell you now what it like s???te rymes with web ,site,
steve
edited to include comment from handysnacks
They are md authorised distributors the other being PAS [who i believe are or was owned by RDM who owned mdhi ] and also they are also the main sole enstrom dealer
They have sold at least 10 md 600s at least 4 900s [2 to friends of mine],3/4 md520s and a number of 500s also double numbers of enstrom 480s and pistons including 12 ex chilian airframes and a number of jetboxes and various others . I dont work there so i dont know the exact numbers but these are ones i know
i have personally bought 6 helicopters from this company over a numer of years
As a private pilot non cpl i have completed rating courses on the 500 520 600 900 at The Mdhi factory at mesa the md range in my mind is second to none and it will be a great shame if the company doesnt pull through there problems and i wish them all a Forward looking 2006.
Just saw their web site??? - speaks for itself really. How do you take a helicopter company seriously when they use Schrek pictures in amongst their PR???]
tc
whats a shreck picture is it good or bad ,dont waste your time looking for my website i tell you now what it like s???te rymes with web ,site,
steve
edited to include comment from handysnacks
Last edited by md 600 driver; 16th Dec 2005 at 10:00.
Tightgit
other being PAS [who i believe are or was owned by MDHI]
PAS never have been and never were owned by MDHI, the connection was that RDM (a Dutch Company) owned PAS and RDM also owned MD Helicopters. Both companies had to stand on their own feet and either live or die by their individual endeavours. Even then it is not that simple, there were and still are various forms that RDM exist in all of which (for financial protection purposes I suspect), are 'independant' of each other and some of which are registered in A Dutch part of the Caribbean
Now of course Patriarch own the controlling interest in MD Helicopters (although I think but am not sure, that RDM still have a financial interest in MD Helicopters)
Finally, feel free to come in and contradict my statements. All of this is gleaned from the infernalnet and my rudimentary business knowledge (very rudimentary)!
Handy
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So how many operators out there suffer from parts supply problems with MD? Certainly over here we have experienced a wild ride with some parts right there and others taking months to procure - and this is for a helicopter supposedly in production - the 902. Some of "us" have been down for weeks - we've just been lucky. What of the single engine lines. Can you get spares OK?
I too, have heard that MD parts service is unreliable etc, etc...
But will anyone agree with me that despite that (and not having much room in the back) - its still the coolest helicopter ever made.
....talking about the 500, obviously.
But will anyone agree with me that despite that (and not having much room in the back) - its still the coolest helicopter ever made.
....talking about the 500, obviously.
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But will anyone agree with me that despite that (and not having much room in the back) - its still the coolest helicopter ever made
I am an old cynic
Not unique. I believe another similar UK HEMS unit has an even better serviceability rate.
Perhaps our machines thrive on the rate of landings? (average 7.5 per flying hour)
Perhaps we don't have to dash everywhere at near max tq and max auw, without so much delicate police role equipment ?
Perhaps it's because only one individual does most of the flying on each machine?
Perhaps our machines thrive on the rate of landings? (average 7.5 per flying hour)
Perhaps we don't have to dash everywhere at near max tq and max auw, without so much delicate police role equipment ?
Perhaps it's because only one individual does most of the flying on each machine?