The Met's EC145s are about to go Operational!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
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From: Out there some where?
What Limits
Two days running now I've supplied incorrect information - apologises to all Ppruners!!!
With regards to the last entry I made where I stated the Von Essen Group had purchased McAlpines this is infact wrong as clarified by Whats Limits.
In your last entry you stated "now for the big rumour" regarding a possibility of a take over of McAlpine Helicopters by Eurocopter.
I was always led to believe that McAlpine Helicopters was already owned and is a subsidary of Eurocopter anyway. Is this not the case then?
Captain Cop!
With regards to the last entry I made where I stated the Von Essen Group had purchased McAlpines this is infact wrong as clarified by Whats Limits.
In your last entry you stated "now for the big rumour" regarding a possibility of a take over of McAlpine Helicopters by Eurocopter.
I was always led to believe that McAlpine Helicopters was already owned and is a subsidary of Eurocopter anyway. Is this not the case then?
Captain Cop!
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
McAlpine is part owned by Eurocopter.
A handful of years ago the percentage was a mere 10% but that may have moved forward. I believe this rumour about an impending sale of the other 90% is not misplaced but I would not want to put a date on it in 2007 any more than I did in 2000 [when a similar rumour was circulating].
The owner, the McAlpine family, will of course wish to do the job eventually - just as they have with that former section of the group, Premiair formerly OSS formerly McAlpine.....
Still at least severing Premiair from the McAlpine family will at least undermine the claim they were one and the same and not two seperate commercial entities! Or will it!
A handful of years ago the percentage was a mere 10% but that may have moved forward. I believe this rumour about an impending sale of the other 90% is not misplaced but I would not want to put a date on it in 2007 any more than I did in 2000 [when a similar rumour was circulating].
The owner, the McAlpine family, will of course wish to do the job eventually - just as they have with that former section of the group, Premiair formerly OSS formerly McAlpine.....
Still at least severing Premiair from the McAlpine family will at least undermine the claim they were one and the same and not two seperate commercial entities! Or will it!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
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From: Out there some where?
Bell222
I've managed to locate a recent edition of the Metropolitan Police
Service internal newspaper called "The Job. There is an article within
dedicated to the new aircraft and the future of the Met ASU.
I've also found a photograph from the McAlpine Helicopters website:
1) www.scotlandyard.police.uk/job/job977/the_job_issue_7_book.pdf.mac-
2) http://www.mac-helicopters.co.uk/news.htm
Enjoy,
Captain Cop!
Service internal newspaper called "The Job. There is an article within
dedicated to the new aircraft and the future of the Met ASU.
I've also found a photograph from the McAlpine Helicopters website:
1) www.scotlandyard.police.uk/job/job977/the_job_issue_7_book.pdf.mac-
2) http://www.mac-helicopters.co.uk/news.htm
Enjoy,
Captain Cop!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
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From: Out there some where?
Bell222
There appears to be a fault with the Metropolitan Police Service internal newspaper website link.
If you want to view the "The Job" article type Met Police EC145 into the relevant search engine. Once established, scan through the various pages until you locate the site stating:
01 Final Cover V2 indd
www.scotlandyard.police.uk/job977/the job issue 7 book pdf.
Hopefully you'll have more success this way?
Capatin Cop!
If you want to view the "The Job" article type Met Police EC145 into the relevant search engine. Once established, scan through the various pages until you locate the site stating:
01 Final Cover V2 indd
www.scotlandyard.police.uk/job977/the job issue 7 book pdf.
Hopefully you'll have more success this way?
Capatin Cop!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 150
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From: LINCS UK
i know this will not happen but would it not have been a good idea to keep one of the 355's purely as a back up aircraft just in case the 145 fleet was grounded for any reason this would ensure some type of air cover
bearing in mind what happened last year when the fleet was grounded due to gearbox probs
bearing in mind what happened last year when the fleet was grounded due to gearbox probs
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
The cost of such a contingency would probably be far too high.
First you would need to keep ALL the pilots current on the 355 as a type, then you would need a second line of spares maintained [notwithstanding that some will already be in the hangar], maintain a disimilar type, and bring the single tired airframe up to somewhere near the same standard operationally as its cohorts - buying a new Wescam 15 for a start [the new aircraft are using the 355 Wescams].
If - heaven forbid - this were to be the case I suspect that once the chapter on 355 is closed it would be cheaper to wet lease in 355's [or anything] and just go fly with the local police observers to cover the gap. When the 355Ns were down they were 'replaced' by a leased in AS355F2 G-CAMB while things were sorted.
The Met is perhaps more important than some other units because of their location but such a move was reflected recently in Cheshire. They had their BN2 offline for a Wescam fit and they brought in an AS355F2 to cover the gap period. As a result their fixed wing pilot was temporarily sidelined and another brought in. Not ideal but it did resolve a perceived problem and gave the observers a fully operational mount [spare BN2s with sensor fits being rare].
First you would need to keep ALL the pilots current on the 355 as a type, then you would need a second line of spares maintained [notwithstanding that some will already be in the hangar], maintain a disimilar type, and bring the single tired airframe up to somewhere near the same standard operationally as its cohorts - buying a new Wescam 15 for a start [the new aircraft are using the 355 Wescams].
If - heaven forbid - this were to be the case I suspect that once the chapter on 355 is closed it would be cheaper to wet lease in 355's [or anything] and just go fly with the local police observers to cover the gap. When the 355Ns were down they were 'replaced' by a leased in AS355F2 G-CAMB while things were sorted.
The Met is perhaps more important than some other units because of their location but such a move was reflected recently in Cheshire. They had their BN2 offline for a Wescam fit and they brought in an AS355F2 to cover the gap period. As a result their fixed wing pilot was temporarily sidelined and another brought in. Not ideal but it did resolve a perceived problem and gave the observers a fully operational mount [spare BN2s with sensor fits being rare].
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,757
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From: Apa, apo ndi kulikonse!
Did I really see G-MPSA into Lippits today....??
....then Police 253 doing a 10km orbit of Hendon at 1500ft!
Interesting testing for the beast!!!!
(Go on then chaps... What was that about!???)
....then Police 253 doing a 10km orbit of Hendon at 1500ft!
Interesting testing for the beast!!!!
(Go on then chaps... What was that about!???)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 182
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From: UK
bell222, that could just be the colour that the manufacturer made them in, I have seen similar Wescam turrets in use in the UK (if thats the manufacturer?) battleship grey. They might even get the turrets resprayed to match the aircraft if that doesn't interfere with their internal electrickery 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,055
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From: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Spare aircraft are becoming rare. We are not taking a squirrel to cover the next servicing period. Money is tight, keeping 4 pilots current is expensive and rental costs are high. To be honest, no names, but our last couple of rentals were a battle of failing role equipment. We eventually stopped using it and just used binoculars.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
The Wescam turrets on the 145s are currently grey because that is the colour they have whilst on their more usual locations under the nose of the white Met AS355Ns. They are not new units - they were acquired last year for the Ns.
I would expect them the change colour [if ever] after the dust of the handover in types settles.
I would expect them the change colour [if ever] after the dust of the handover in types settles.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,536
Likes: 295
From: The Alps
Suffolk County (NY) Police EC-145
Saw and took picture of the new Suffolk County (NY) Police, EC-145 fit to role by Metro Aviation, at Heli Expo a few weeks ago. Very nice
Last edited by chopper2004; 24th March 2007 at 14:41. Reason: select different photo