SARH to go
Yet the Falklands is fully manned with 2, 4-man crews
If Crab has got any hair left, I'll bet it is getting ripped out now!
Chin up fella, it can only get better!
I've got to ask though, who is covering the Western area of Lyme bay at night? That's quite a long slog for Culdrose!
3D
Chin up fella, it can only get better!I've got to ask though, who is covering the Western area of Lyme bay at night? That's quite a long slog for Culdrose!
3D
An excellent question 3D - probably the French!!!
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3D & CRAB
When this restricted cover was announced it was suggested to the ARCCK that as the Portland SAR flight has always been day cover 0900-2100, would it not be better for Chivenor to cover the nights for these 5 days.
Suggestion turned down, possibly along the lines of "not invented here"
When this restricted cover was announced it was suggested to the ARCCK that as the Portland SAR flight has always been day cover 0900-2100, would it not be better for Chivenor to cover the nights for these 5 days.
Suggestion turned down, possibly along the lines of "not invented here"
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No mention of the 139
Imagine the costs / knock on effects if an S92 / 139 mix had won the full SAR(H) contract and 5 years down the line they tried to stop 139 ops. Crab would have had a field day
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Fair point SW, but a surprise when you consider how much a two-type operation was talked up. I wonder if the EC175 was ready in time, would the idea be looked at again.
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So no surprises there then. But what concerns me is the ability of modern high disc loaded helicopters to recover people from life rafts. Viz the helicopter only recovering 3 out of 18 people from the recent North Sea ditching (although I don't know if that was due to the aircraft or because the standby boat got there first). Has anyone any experience of this on the aircraft types proposed? Will the bidders be required to demonstrate this and other abilities prior to a choice being made? Does this issue matter to the SARH team?
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Soteria announces S92 solution for SAR-H
Soteria, the team bidding for the harmonised UK search and rescue helicopter (SAR-H) contract, has announced the Sikorsky S92 as its preferred choice of aircraft for the new service.
The Soteria Consortium – comprising CHC Helicopter Corporation, Thales UK and the Royal Bank of Scotland – says the aircraft is already proven in the SAR environment and represents an effective, reliable, value-for-money proposition.
Soteria is taking part in the competitive process led by the Ministry of Defence and Department of Transport to create a single SAR helicopter entity to succeed the existing service, provided across a number of organisations.
David Rae, Soteria Bid Director, says: “We are absolutely confident that the S92 is the right aircraft for this new era in UK SAR services. Specifically configured for SAR operations, it has already established an excellent track record and possesses the power, speed and technological capabilities to deliver SAR services in the most testing of conditions.
“As a platform it is safe, robust and dependable. It is versatile and well suited to performing tasks across the full spectrum of SAR activity.
“The Soteria team brings together partners who offer diverse yet complementary skills and experience to deliver an innovative, value-for-money solution, and we believe the S92 is the right choice of airframe to meet the demands of SAR-H in the long term.
“We have been determined throughout to create an offering that meets the very specific challenges of a service to be provided from multiple bases for the 25-year plus lifespan of the contract, and the S92 is absolutely pivotal to that offering.”
CHC already has significant direct experience of operating SAR S92s in the UK, deploying them from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) bases at Stornoway and Shetland as part of its interim contract with the agency. The S92 has proved extremely successful in the most challenging environment that the UK has to offer and it has been repeatedly tested in response to a diverse range of operational SAR missions – totalling over 300 to date - while maintaining impressive aircraft availability levels in excess of 98%.
The S92 is a technology-led aircraft that represents the long-term future of UK SAR and Soteria is proud to have the aircraft at the heart of its bid.
AIRKNIGHT ADVANCES SAR-H SOLUTION BY SELECTING EUROCOPTER’S EC225
AirKnight, the teaming of Lockheed Martin UK, VT Group and British International Helicopters, is advancing its solution for the UK’s Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) programme through selection of one of the world’s most advanced and versatile helicopters, the Eurocopter EC225.
SAR-H is a joint Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Private Finance Initiative project for the provision of a harmonised SAR helicopter service around the UK, and the Falkland Islands. Starting in 2012, SAR-H will see a new fleet of dedicated rescue helicopters that will provide a harmonised service for the UK for up to 30 years.
“The new SAR-H service must continue the legacy and outstanding reputation the current service has established. AirKnight will offer a low risk, responsive SAR service that the UK public can depend on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Tom Gordon, AirKnight bid director. “Lockheed Martin and VT is a proven partnership with the right combination of skills and experience to deliver a comprehensive SAR service and the financial stability to deliver this PFI programme.”
Lockheed Martin and VT are recognised as leading providers of critical services to Government customers ranging from emergency services to air traffic control, and have a proven track record of successfully managing risk and delivering high availability on capability -based contracts in demanding environments. Through the Ascent joint venture, Lockheed Martin and VT are working together to deliver the UK’s Military Flying Training System programme. British International Helicopters has extensive helicopter experience in the challenging Falkland Islands environment.
“To complement our robust service offering, AirKnight has selected the EC225 helicopter, which is performing SAR operations today in some of the harshest maritime environments with unmatched mission and cost effectiveness,” adds Tom Gordon. “It has an outstanding safety and service record, was initially designed for the demands of search and rescue missions, and is extremely reliable.”
The EC225 is the latest member in the long-serving Super Puma family of helicopters which have flown in excess of 4,000,000+ operational hours. Well suited for SAR, the EC225 can carry 12 or more casualties, fly for more than 500 miles unrefuelled and has a door each side to ease casualty recovery. Coupled with a unique 4-axis automatic flight control system specifically designed for helicopters and SAR, the EC225 has been selected for SAR and Coastguard applications in countries including Japan, China, South Korea and Norway.
“AirKnight’s heritage, coupled with the EC225’s performance, is an incredibly strong base for SAR-H,” said Tom Gordon. “The strength of this team will guarantee the successful delivery over the full life of the programme.”
Soteria, the team bidding for the harmonised UK search and rescue helicopter (SAR-H) contract, has announced the Sikorsky S92 as its preferred choice of aircraft for the new service.
The Soteria Consortium – comprising CHC Helicopter Corporation, Thales UK and the Royal Bank of Scotland – says the aircraft is already proven in the SAR environment and represents an effective, reliable, value-for-money proposition.
Soteria is taking part in the competitive process led by the Ministry of Defence and Department of Transport to create a single SAR helicopter entity to succeed the existing service, provided across a number of organisations.
David Rae, Soteria Bid Director, says: “We are absolutely confident that the S92 is the right aircraft for this new era in UK SAR services. Specifically configured for SAR operations, it has already established an excellent track record and possesses the power, speed and technological capabilities to deliver SAR services in the most testing of conditions.
“As a platform it is safe, robust and dependable. It is versatile and well suited to performing tasks across the full spectrum of SAR activity.
“The Soteria team brings together partners who offer diverse yet complementary skills and experience to deliver an innovative, value-for-money solution, and we believe the S92 is the right choice of airframe to meet the demands of SAR-H in the long term.
“We have been determined throughout to create an offering that meets the very specific challenges of a service to be provided from multiple bases for the 25-year plus lifespan of the contract, and the S92 is absolutely pivotal to that offering.”
CHC already has significant direct experience of operating SAR S92s in the UK, deploying them from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) bases at Stornoway and Shetland as part of its interim contract with the agency. The S92 has proved extremely successful in the most challenging environment that the UK has to offer and it has been repeatedly tested in response to a diverse range of operational SAR missions – totalling over 300 to date - while maintaining impressive aircraft availability levels in excess of 98%.
The S92 is a technology-led aircraft that represents the long-term future of UK SAR and Soteria is proud to have the aircraft at the heart of its bid.
AIRKNIGHT ADVANCES SAR-H SOLUTION BY SELECTING EUROCOPTER’S EC225
AirKnight, the teaming of Lockheed Martin UK, VT Group and British International Helicopters, is advancing its solution for the UK’s Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) programme through selection of one of the world’s most advanced and versatile helicopters, the Eurocopter EC225.
SAR-H is a joint Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Private Finance Initiative project for the provision of a harmonised SAR helicopter service around the UK, and the Falkland Islands. Starting in 2012, SAR-H will see a new fleet of dedicated rescue helicopters that will provide a harmonised service for the UK for up to 30 years.
“The new SAR-H service must continue the legacy and outstanding reputation the current service has established. AirKnight will offer a low risk, responsive SAR service that the UK public can depend on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Tom Gordon, AirKnight bid director. “Lockheed Martin and VT is a proven partnership with the right combination of skills and experience to deliver a comprehensive SAR service and the financial stability to deliver this PFI programme.”
Lockheed Martin and VT are recognised as leading providers of critical services to Government customers ranging from emergency services to air traffic control, and have a proven track record of successfully managing risk and delivering high availability on capability -based contracts in demanding environments. Through the Ascent joint venture, Lockheed Martin and VT are working together to deliver the UK’s Military Flying Training System programme. British International Helicopters has extensive helicopter experience in the challenging Falkland Islands environment.
“To complement our robust service offering, AirKnight has selected the EC225 helicopter, which is performing SAR operations today in some of the harshest maritime environments with unmatched mission and cost effectiveness,” adds Tom Gordon. “It has an outstanding safety and service record, was initially designed for the demands of search and rescue missions, and is extremely reliable.”
The EC225 is the latest member in the long-serving Super Puma family of helicopters which have flown in excess of 4,000,000+ operational hours. Well suited for SAR, the EC225 can carry 12 or more casualties, fly for more than 500 miles unrefuelled and has a door each side to ease casualty recovery. Coupled with a unique 4-axis automatic flight control system specifically designed for helicopters and SAR, the EC225 has been selected for SAR and Coastguard applications in countries including Japan, China, South Korea and Norway.
“AirKnight’s heritage, coupled with the EC225’s performance, is an incredibly strong base for SAR-H,” said Tom Gordon. “The strength of this team will guarantee the successful delivery over the full life of the programme.”
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Has anyone any experience of this on the aircraft types proposed?
What a delicious irony!
The UK manufactures [carlsberg]probably the best[/carlsberg] SAR helicopter in the world, in the shape of the AW101, and shortlists the S-92 and the Super Puma.
Yes, yes, I know, it's the bidders' choice, and we're selecting bidders to run a SAR service, not aircraft. And we're doing that because it has to be a PFI.
Remind me again, why do we want to go down the PFI route?
From April it's no longer 'off book spending', and aren't there some difficulties in the financial markets that make PFIs a tad tricky, at the mo?
Haven't PFIs been discredited enough yet?
Is it really so vital to funnel taxpayers money into shareholder profit for the bid teams that we need to procure the wrong aircraft and flush a gold standard (military run, not-for-profit) SAR operation down the toilet?
Or am I being naive again?
The UK manufactures [carlsberg]probably the best[/carlsberg] SAR helicopter in the world, in the shape of the AW101, and shortlists the S-92 and the Super Puma.
Yes, yes, I know, it's the bidders' choice, and we're selecting bidders to run a SAR service, not aircraft. And we're doing that because it has to be a PFI.
Remind me again, why do we want to go down the PFI route?
From April it's no longer 'off book spending', and aren't there some difficulties in the financial markets that make PFIs a tad tricky, at the mo?
Haven't PFIs been discredited enough yet?
Is it really so vital to funnel taxpayers money into shareholder profit for the bid teams that we need to procure the wrong aircraft and flush a gold standard (military run, not-for-profit) SAR operation down the toilet?
Or am I being naive again?
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Or am I being naive again?
Seriously though I think most people agree with / support the 'not for profit' argument but that only works if the govt of the day are prepared to fund the service out of public money - whether it be channelled through a military department or a dept of transport / coastguard one. Can you honestly see any of the clowns in the circus of westminster fighting that corner in the present climate.
Next best option appears to be PFI and there are some success stories. Look at DHFS.
regards,
SW
Jackonicko - not quite sure where you got the idea that the AW101 is probably the world's best SAR helicopter from - was it an AW press release perhaps?
The unfortunate thing about stating a type at this stage is that we may end up choosing the bidder by platform rather than by the quality of the bidder.
I think from a pilot's perspective there may not be much to choose between the S92 and the EC225 but from a rearcrew standpoint, the S92 wins hands down in terms of space and ease of movement in the cabin.
The unfortunate thing about stating a type at this stage is that we may end up choosing the bidder by platform rather than by the quality of the bidder.
I think from a pilot's perspective there may not be much to choose between the S92 and the EC225 but from a rearcrew standpoint, the S92 wins hands down in terms of space and ease of movement in the cabin.
AirKnight heritage?
Lockheed Martin using EC-225's?
Whoa....what about the VH-71 Airframes that might be surplus in a few weeks?
Lockheed Martin using EC-225's?
Whoa....what about the VH-71 Airframes that might be surplus in a few weeks?
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Crab makes a joke
rearcrew standpoint, the S92 wins hands down in terms of space and ease of movement in the cabin
Mick 2088 - yes it was but because of the extra cost of the 101, the sums only added up if there were less than 12 bases. Once the 12 base solution was mandated it made things a bit tricky.
Sapper - I think the real reason for choosing to give daytime cover is for FJ flying (our primary duty). It is not the MoD's fault that there is no overnight winching cover in the Channel - see CHC for that one.
On that note- any further developments regarding pay, terms, conditions and possible industrial action?
On that note- any further developments regarding pay, terms, conditions and possible industrial action?
".......where you got the idea that the AW101 is probably the world's best SAR helicopter from - was it an AW press release perhaps?"
AW releasing anything useful or relevant? YGBSM.
No, not from a release, just from talking to Canadian operators who seem very pleased with it, availability aside. And they do have a lovely new shed to make up for the spares they didn't buy.....
The Danes seem to be pleased, too, now they have finally got it into productive service.
AW releasing anything useful or relevant? YGBSM.
No, not from a release, just from talking to Canadian operators who seem very pleased with it, availability aside. And they do have a lovely new shed to make up for the spares they didn't buy.....
The Danes seem to be pleased, too, now they have finally got it into productive service.