SARH to go
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Chivenor at Cherbourg last night!
I take it that nothing has been resolved with the night cover on the south coast.
I understand that the Guys from Chivenor went to the aircraft crash off of Cherbourg last night. Shouldn't that have been a job for Lee or Portland?
I understand that the Guys from Chivenor went to the aircraft crash off of Cherbourg last night. Shouldn't that have been a job for Lee or Portland?
as the world sees us
British SAR Chaos
October 27th, 2008
Close co-operation between the voluntary, donation-funded, RNLI lifeboats, and the Government-funded RAF and FAA helicopter crews and the Coast Guard have saved many lives every year around the British Isles
Cash strapped Blair Brown Regime has been trying to privatize British helicopter SAR coverage, including cover in the Falklands Islands, to avoid having to fund 40 new helicopters to replace the aging Sea Kings flown by RAF, FAA and MSA crews.
The British consortium, including Bristow and Agusta Westland, have withdrawn from bidding and stories are circulating that the two foreign bidders are considering withdrawal unless the value of the PFI contract is significantly increased.
The story also circulating is that Regime is attempting to blackmail the British consortium into re-entering the bidding by threatening that the companies making up the consortium will be blackballed from bidding for any other British Government contracts in the future unless they re-enter the bidding for this contentious PFI contract.
October 27th, 2008
Close co-operation between the voluntary, donation-funded, RNLI lifeboats, and the Government-funded RAF and FAA helicopter crews and the Coast Guard have saved many lives every year around the British Isles
Cash strapped Blair Brown Regime has been trying to privatize British helicopter SAR coverage, including cover in the Falklands Islands, to avoid having to fund 40 new helicopters to replace the aging Sea Kings flown by RAF, FAA and MSA crews.
The British consortium, including Bristow and Agusta Westland, have withdrawn from bidding and stories are circulating that the two foreign bidders are considering withdrawal unless the value of the PFI contract is significantly increased.
The story also circulating is that Regime is attempting to blackmail the British consortium into re-entering the bidding by threatening that the companies making up the consortium will be blackballed from bidding for any other British Government contracts in the future unless they re-enter the bidding for this contentious PFI contract.
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S92 First Tasking Whilst on Loan
Delighted to announce that the loan S92 based at Lee has been given it's first tasking. A sick baby + 2 doctors + nurse + all supporting equipment and additionaly 2 BBC film crew from Regents Park, London to University of Wales Hospital Cardiff. Going on as we speak.
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Oops, need for a slight change of fact to above. The S92 went to London, Regents Park, picked up 2 doctors, then flew to Cardiff and dropped the doctors to be met by R-169 from Chivenor who took the sick baby, doctors, nurses & equipment back to Great Ormond Street. The BBC film crew were not taken on any of the legs.
A great joint effort which hopefully saves a childs life.
A great joint effort which hopefully saves a childs life.
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What would have precluded the 139 from completing the above tasking? Is it not available for lit helipad (airport?) to lit helipad (airport?)??
Either way hope the outcome is sucessful for the wee one!!
Either way hope the outcome is sucessful for the wee one!!
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Size Matters
What would have precluded the 139 from completing the above tasking? Is it not available for lit helipad (airport?) to lit helipad (airport?)??
Not another regular SAR job that the 139 can't do - surely not
It will be interesting what the Falklands visit by the SARH team recently will add to the mix since the need for a military helicopter ie one you can put guns on, is a very clear requirement for the future here, especially since the Chinooks won't be coming back. Unfortunately, the geniuses (genii?) in charge forgot to think about that capability. Doh!
It will be interesting what the Falklands visit by the SARH team recently will add to the mix since the need for a military helicopter ie one you can put guns on, is a very clear requirement for the future here, especially since the Chinooks won't be coming back. Unfortunately, the geniuses (genii?) in charge forgot to think about that capability. Doh!
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The existing S61s are civ aircraft up until a certain point in the Transition to War and then the MOD effectively takes control of them, indemnifying the owner in the process. I suspect a similar arrangement will probably be put in place for SAR-H meaning that the MOD, in a conflict, can then strap guns, rockets or even Royal Marines to the side if they wish.
To be pedantic I don't think any UK SAR helicopter, mil or civ, can legally carry an ECMO team and all its equipment due to the presence of some nasty DAC that they embark with them. Nitric Oxide is a gas used in ECMO which is colourless odourless and if discharged into a confined space in sufficient quantity - fatal.
To be pedantic I don't think any UK SAR helicopter, mil or civ, can legally carry an ECMO team and all its equipment due to the presence of some nasty DAC that they embark with them. Nitric Oxide is a gas used in ECMO which is colourless odourless and if discharged into a confined space in sufficient quantity - fatal.
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They'll get a bit bored at Leconfield without any ECMOs to do!
I very much doubt the people & kit that make up an ECMO team would fit in the back of an AW139 so they probably wouldn't have been tasked had it not been an S-92.
I very much doubt the people & kit that make up an ECMO team would fit in the back of an AW139 so they probably wouldn't have been tasked had it not been an S-92.
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Strongly suspect that's NitrOUS Oxide.
And we've been carrying the stuff for at least 28 years to my knowledge without damaging any crew in any way. It also used to get squirted around in large quantities in dental surgeries without much news of the dentists or their staff falling over.
Lots of things are fatal in sufficient quantities.
Sven
And we've been carrying the stuff for at least 28 years to my knowledge without damaging any crew in any way. It also used to get squirted around in large quantities in dental surgeries without much news of the dentists or their staff falling over.
Lots of things are fatal in sufficient quantities.
Sven
Pedantic on
No - it is Nitric Oxide. Used as a vasodilator in neonates, usually as a last resort before ECMO is considered.
However, in males it is better known as the signalling molecule that gives you an erection. I suppose you could overdose on it - but what a way to go!
Cue the joke about closing the coffin lid.
Pedantic off
BTW Anything good to report from the SARF Conference?
No - it is Nitric Oxide. Used as a vasodilator in neonates, usually as a last resort before ECMO is considered.
However, in males it is better known as the signalling molecule that gives you an erection. I suppose you could overdose on it - but what a way to go!
Cue the joke about closing the coffin lid.
Pedantic off
BTW Anything good to report from the SARF Conference?
Last edited by Adam Nams; 21st Nov 2008 at 01:17.
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That'll teach me to pontificate outside of specialisation!
Quite a lot came out of the Conference. Pick up the phone to discuss.
Sven
Quite a lot came out of the Conference. Pick up the phone to discuss.
Sven
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The aircraft is on its way back to Sumburgh today. Presently at Aberdeen.
I would also liked to have said how civilized and gentlemanly this forum had become since a certain went down to visit the penguin colonies of the South Atlantic. Then he chipped in again. Oh dear!
Wiretensioner
I would also liked to have said how civilized and gentlemanly this forum had become since a certain went down to visit the penguin colonies of the South Atlantic. Then he chipped in again. Oh dear!
Wiretensioner
MP fumes over chopper withdrawal
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Having looked after a few LZs for ECMO retrievals over the years, the medical team usually spends an hour or so at the hospital, preparing the baby for the transfer. The team plus (sedated) baby then return to the site and the aircraft departs once the incubator has been hoisted into the cab using Fire Service/Coastguard/RAF crew muscle power (I have pics of one such retrieval if anyone really wants them).
Only a handful of hospitals have ECMO machines (Great Ormond St., Leicester and Glasgow, from memory) - they're not something that can come to the patient, regardless of the size of the helicopter. Over the years, we've worked with crews from Leconfield, Wattisham and even Boulmer on these jobs (I'm in south Wales, before anyone asks). Most tend to occur around 3am.....
57A
Only a handful of hospitals have ECMO machines (Great Ormond St., Leicester and Glasgow, from memory) - they're not something that can come to the patient, regardless of the size of the helicopter. Over the years, we've worked with crews from Leconfield, Wattisham and even Boulmer on these jobs (I'm in south Wales, before anyone asks). Most tend to occur around 3am.....
57A
Alba Gu Brath
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What would have precluded the 139 from completing the above tasking?
The nitric oxide combines with oxygen preventing the haemoglobin in the blood from doing the same (similar effect to carbon monoxide) - that is why it can be fatal in a confined are and why the NHS can't use pressurised FW aircraft for ECMO transfers. A Sea King is hardly airtight and as such is a perfectly safe, if noisy and slow, mode of transport for the team and the kit.
Wiretensioner - so Crabbette's posts were civilised and gentlemanly (or ladylike) then?
Max - no, it would appear that it had not even popped above the radar horizon of the IPT, much to the annoyance of the wheels here. And whilst you can fill a civvy aircraft with troops, you are going to need some contingency plans to fit weapons (hard points, mountings, pintles etc) which needs to be thought about before the event not after.
Wiretensioner - so Crabbette's posts were civilised and gentlemanly (or ladylike) then?
Max - no, it would appear that it had not even popped above the radar horizon of the IPT, much to the annoyance of the wheels here. And whilst you can fill a civvy aircraft with troops, you are going to need some contingency plans to fit weapons (hard points, mountings, pintles etc) which needs to be thought about before the event not after.
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and why the NHS can't use pressurised FW aircraft for ECMO transfers
Last edited by Granite City Flyer; 22nd Nov 2008 at 12:25.