Air ambulance/ Police- winching/ onshore rescue
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: north pole
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air ambulance/ Police- winching/ onshore rescue
Does anyone know if UK emergency service helicopters are winch equipped? It seems that although the RAF are providing most of the UK SAR coverage, civilian helicopters worldwide are proving to be excellent rescue assets and are on par with some of the very best military set ups. Would it be a logical step for air ambulances/ Police to become winch capable to provide an onshore capability?
Here in Switzerland they do an outstanding job......
Here in Switzerland they do an outstanding job......
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: On the green bit near the blue wobbly stuff
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Part of the problem is possibly that in the UK, police & air ambulance a/c are civilian, and have to be operated to Cat A most of the time. That precludes hovering over cliffs etc carrying out winching. Also, the weight penalty from sticking a winch on the side of the aircraft means that you would reduce the endurance or crew in the primary role of policing or ambulancing, unless you buy a great big expensive helicopter, which police forces and charities cant afford.
That is why in the UK the SAR service is provided by the military and coastguard, where there is public funding which allows the right sort of aircraft to be used.
In many European countries, police aircraft are operated under paramilitary rules, and also have different funding arrangements, making operation of specialist rescue aircraft a more viable option.
That is why in the UK the SAR service is provided by the military and coastguard, where there is public funding which allows the right sort of aircraft to be used.
In many European countries, police aircraft are operated under paramilitary rules, and also have different funding arrangements, making operation of specialist rescue aircraft a more viable option.
There are no limits
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shrewsbury, England.
Age: 66
Posts: 505
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome winchman, we have been around this particular buoy before. If you explore the search facility you will find a number of threads on the subject.
For the rest of us, please refrain from the traditional willy-waving peeing contest!
For the rest of us, please refrain from the traditional willy-waving peeing contest!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
6 Posts
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...olice+winching
Done to death
Done to death
Part of the problem is possibly that in the UK, police & air ambulance a/c are civilian, and have to be operated to Cat A most of the time.
As has been pointed out many times before; the helicopter is certificated to Category A and operated to Performance Classes 1, 2 or 3. In the case of the 'HEMS Operating Site' the standard is PC2 with Exposure and the regulations are being amended to say precisely that.
Jim
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: squawk ident
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Psyclic
In reply to your statement, it seems the CAA have warmed to their idea and given approval for go ahead with inland winching. The first air ambulance to get it in the uk.
Suppose that'll put the cat amongst the pigeons !
In reply to your statement, it seems the CAA have warmed to their idea and given approval for go ahead with inland winching. The first air ambulance to get it in the uk.
Suppose that'll put the cat amongst the pigeons !
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which air ambo are you on about then?
I might be wrong, but the only 902 in the uk with the fixed fitting above the RH cabin door is that new Yorkshire one as seen on TV.
Any 135's or 109's with fittings?
I might be wrong, but the only 902 in the uk with the fixed fitting above the RH cabin door is that new Yorkshire one as seen on TV.
Any 135's or 109's with fittings?
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: squawk ident
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Winchman
In reply to your question it seems as though there will be emergency service aircraft equipped with a winch in the near future.
If you read a lot of the other threads on this forum around this topic there seems to be a lot of members that are 'against' the idea of civilians winching in the uk.
The CAA wouldn't of given approval without lots of thought and research into such a new role for civvy crew personnel.
Do you use single engine or twin engine for winching in switzerland ?
In reply to your question it seems as though there will be emergency service aircraft equipped with a winch in the near future.
If you read a lot of the other threads on this forum around this topic there seems to be a lot of members that are 'against' the idea of civilians winching in the uk.
The CAA wouldn't of given approval without lots of thought and research into such a new role for civvy crew personnel.
Do you use single engine or twin engine for winching in switzerland ?
Put a winch on a Police 135 and you will be left with about 30 mins endurance.........you will also have to consider the training requirement for the guys in the back.
To winch someone up you would probably need to leave a Bobby behind, find somewhere to fit a rigid stretcher, etc etc. Leave it to the bigger cabs be they Civ or Mil
To winch someone up you would probably need to leave a Bobby behind, find somewhere to fit a rigid stretcher, etc etc. Leave it to the bigger cabs be they Civ or Mil
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: UK
Age: 70
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ask your police observers, do they really want to be on the end of a wire in gale force winds getting a drunk off a yacht.
Typical case of "jack of all trades" syndrome methinks.
Typical case of "jack of all trades" syndrome methinks.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: UK
Age: 47
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did see an Air Ambulance helicopter at McAlpines a few months back which did have the necessary fittings on the fuselage for a winch, but I think that was only because of the previous customer specifying it before Bond took over the aircraft.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: England
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe it is about time for air ambulances to progress like there European associates..... Given that it can take anything up to an hour+ for a Seaking to reach a patient, what could be more perfect for places with the terrain to suit winching (Scotland, Wales, Lakes, Yorkshire etc) than a quickly dispatched nimble machine with excellent medical care.... Look at the floods in Carlisle and Sheffield, definitely an area that’s worth some thought.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: England
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a thought, but isn't the 135 and 902 are already being used worldwide for winching. I appreciate that they will not be capable of operating in a safe single engine flight configuration whilst winching but then again can you name one that is (Operationally and not in training). From what i've seen of air ambulances they are the latest generation of safe helicopters that are totally underutilized in their capability and could quite easily be a useful asset to the emergency services by being winch equipped and at the same time aiding the already overstretched UK SAR force over land.
Nice Video.
I think I may have beaten RotorDompteur onto that particular platform though
. Sadly I never got to do any winching onto the turbines 
Hi to all at Uni-Fly
TeeS
I think I may have beaten RotorDompteur onto that particular platform though
. Sadly I never got to do any winching onto the turbines Hi to all at Uni-Fly
TeeS
