Prince William to become a SAR driver
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And who were the rest of the crew?
Working class people with regional accents I expect? "Give him a break"! Since when did you start being nice to pilots, have you bumped your head?
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Daily Mail in typical form, I see - this was neither a Search or a Rescue, it was a Medevac, most appropriately carried out by Rescue 122 as the safest, best trained and probably most cost effective manner of ensuring a workers' medical condition was treated quickly.
Yes, of course there'll be "first" this & "first" that but, with any luck, the press will get bored eventually, just as they did with Prince Andrew 30+ years ago (when all we heard about was what the "second-in-line to the throne" was getting up to), and let Flt Lt Wales get on with his job. When William was born, many spliced the mainbrace in celebration of a new heir - many others celebrated that the 2nd-in-line had now become 3rd, so the press could go off & terrorise his brother, sister in law and usurper instead; and let the new 3rd-in-line get on with his job.
In the meanwhile, take the press coverage with a large pinch of salt and live with it as positive advertising for the SAR fleet, RAF and Military in general - as it's nothing new. The average member of the public has no idea of what the different arms of the services are about unless they hear snippets of this sort - and I'd promote that they need all the support the public can provide, since it takes such a large slice of our, ever diminishing, public money!
On a separate note, TCs comment brings back memories of a shared SPLOT who made a double manual, very slow "carrier deck" landing (onto a runway) the culmination of a first Captaincy check ride. All members of the crew had "died", & the now single pilot learnt the real meaning of "one-armed-paper-hangar"!
It might not be practiced in the Sim, or generally with a single pilot, but knowing it wasn't impossible certainly did wonders for a young aviator's confidence in both himself and the venerable Queen of the Skies. 
Yes, of course there'll be "first" this & "first" that but, with any luck, the press will get bored eventually, just as they did with Prince Andrew 30+ years ago (when all we heard about was what the "second-in-line to the throne" was getting up to), and let Flt Lt Wales get on with his job. When William was born, many spliced the mainbrace in celebration of a new heir - many others celebrated that the 2nd-in-line had now become 3rd, so the press could go off & terrorise his brother, sister in law and usurper instead; and let the new 3rd-in-line get on with his job.
In the meanwhile, take the press coverage with a large pinch of salt and live with it as positive advertising for the SAR fleet, RAF and Military in general - as it's nothing new. The average member of the public has no idea of what the different arms of the services are about unless they hear snippets of this sort - and I'd promote that they need all the support the public can provide, since it takes such a large slice of our, ever diminishing, public money!
On a separate note, TCs comment brings back memories of a shared SPLOT who made a double manual, very slow "carrier deck" landing (onto a runway) the culmination of a first Captaincy check ride. All members of the crew had "died", & the now single pilot learnt the real meaning of "one-armed-paper-hangar"!
It might not be practiced in the Sim, or generally with a single pilot, but knowing it wasn't impossible certainly did wonders for a young aviator's confidence in both himself and the venerable Queen of the Skies.
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One can be pedantic or argue that it was a Medical Evacuation since
Not sure when the familar term "Medevac" has been defined to the detail you mention, Torque, but probably the same person who invented the term "Medrescue" - sounds like a wishy-washy one to me! 
medevac refers to the moving of a patient either from the point of injury, or a casualty collection point, to a medical facility
Oh cut the poor guy a break!
He flew out into the wilds of the North Atlantic in a machine with a glide ratio akin to a brick, picked up some poor guy off of a little bitty oil rig and delivered him safely to hospital.
As one who's most terrifying aviation experiences involved hovering Bell 47's,
I salute him!
(via my Iphone while waiting for clearance on a pleasant evening with two turbines and fixed wings)
He flew out into the wilds of the North Atlantic in a machine with a glide ratio akin to a brick, picked up some poor guy off of a little bitty oil rig and delivered him safely to hospital.
As one who's most terrifying aviation experiences involved hovering Bell 47's,
I salute him!
(via my Iphone while waiting for clearance on a pleasant evening with two turbines and fixed wings)
Zorab,
As it happens the ARCC have indeed defined it the way I stated. I fully accept that medevac is the usual term for this kind of job, but in the rarified world of UK SAR, technically it's a Medrescue.
TOTD
As it happens the ARCC have indeed defined it the way I stated. I fully accept that medevac is the usual term for this kind of job, but in the rarified world of UK SAR, technically it's a Medrescue
.TOTD
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Thanks TOTD - but the cynical might argue that it's just a new definition to justify the "rescue" statistics of the "rarified world of UK SAR"
Detailed definitions notwithstanding, my earlier point re press & royalty interest still stand, whatever the actual task.
Z
Detailed definitions notwithstanding, my earlier point re press & royalty interest still stand, whatever the actual task.
Z
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Dog, Morecambe Bay is hardly the "wilds of the N Atlantic", and the glide ratio of his machine is relevant, well, precisely how?
Seems to me that even gash civvies manage just fine landing on those scary dangerous platforms in "moderately gusty" conditions hundreds of times a day, seven days a week.
How the daily hate manages to create "news" where none exists!
Having said that, BZ to both the princes on achieving their current positions. Shame neither joined the Navy though.
Seems to me that even gash civvies manage just fine landing on those scary dangerous platforms in "moderately gusty" conditions hundreds of times a day, seven days a week.
How the daily hate manages to create "news" where none exists!
Having said that, BZ to both the princes on achieving their current positions. Shame neither joined the Navy though.
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From a republican Aussie, well done William Wales for graduating a demanding course and I hope you get to spend a few years doing the job for real without the hassle of royal duties.
Good luck, have fun and I hope your Sea Queen keeps on turning.
Good luck, have fun and I hope your Sea Queen keeps on turning.
Duke of Cambridge to be deployed in Falkland Islands next spring
The Duke, a Flight Lieutenant with the RAF, will be posted to the remote outcrop in the South Atlantic from February to March where he will fly search and rescue helicopter missions. His deployment was announced in the summer but it has taken until now to work out when he could serve on the British overseas territory.
The 30th anniversary of the Falklands War will be commemorated next year and the Duke's arrival may inflame relations between the British and Argentine Governments. His duties will be to respond, as the co-pilot of two Sea King helicopters, to any crises – such as rescues – or natural disasters.
Flight Lieutenant Wales, as he is known, will be based at RAF Mount Pleasant, home to 2,000 servicemen and opened by his uncle the Duke of York, who served as a helicopter pilot in the 1982 war to regain the islands.
Conditions on the base have been described as "bleak" although the base has a range of sporting facilities including gym, swimming pool, a golf course and karting track.
Based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales, the Duke of Cambridge qualified as an RAF Search and Rescue Force (Sarf) helicopter co-pilot last September. In recent months he has been intensifying his work with the aim of qualifying for a captaincy.
The experience he will gain in the South Atlantic and the flying hours he will notch up answering emergency call-outs will help him achieve his goal. The Duke's dates have also been chosen to avoid clashing with the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Duke will be available to take part in national events staged over an extended four-day bank holiday weekend in June when it is expected he will join the Queen and other senior royals for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
The dates also mean that he and the Duchess will be able to join the Queen for the royal family's traditional gathering at Sandringham. The Duke should miss the worst of the Falklands weather but if he does venture out the MoD has a long list of items servicemen and women should bring with them.
On its website, suggested clothing includes walking socks, fleeces and thermal underwear while officers have to bring a shirt and tie. Under luxury items, the Duke is advised to take with him lavatory rolls, tissues, washing powder, toothpaste and his favourite shampoo. As there are no cash machines on the islands, the royal will have to cash cheques with the public cashier.
The MoD said in a statement that William would "complete a routine deployment to the Falkland Islands as part of a crew of four RAF personnel during the period February to March 2012.
"This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales' training and career progression as a Search and Rescue pilot within the RAF." The Duke will be posted alone, with the Duchess remaining behind at their home at Kensington Palace.
Last night The Duke, accompanied by the Duchess, attended a black-tie reception in aid of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal at St James's Palace.
The Duke launched the appeal - which aims to raise £12 million to develop the Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, into a world-renowned centre for remembrance - and became its patron. In a speech he said: "For Britons today, and for generations of Britons to come, the example of dedicating one’s life to helping and protecting others and to the service of our country remains core to our values as a Nation. Nowhere is this lesson better taught than through contemplation of the names inscribed on the memorials in Staffordshire."
So far half the sum needed has been donated or pledged, the Duke said.
The Duke, a Flight Lieutenant with the RAF, will be posted to the remote outcrop in the South Atlantic from February to March where he will fly search and rescue helicopter missions. His deployment was announced in the summer but it has taken until now to work out when he could serve on the British overseas territory.
The 30th anniversary of the Falklands War will be commemorated next year and the Duke's arrival may inflame relations between the British and Argentine Governments. His duties will be to respond, as the co-pilot of two Sea King helicopters, to any crises – such as rescues – or natural disasters.
Flight Lieutenant Wales, as he is known, will be based at RAF Mount Pleasant, home to 2,000 servicemen and opened by his uncle the Duke of York, who served as a helicopter pilot in the 1982 war to regain the islands.
Conditions on the base have been described as "bleak" although the base has a range of sporting facilities including gym, swimming pool, a golf course and karting track.
Based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales, the Duke of Cambridge qualified as an RAF Search and Rescue Force (Sarf) helicopter co-pilot last September. In recent months he has been intensifying his work with the aim of qualifying for a captaincy.
The experience he will gain in the South Atlantic and the flying hours he will notch up answering emergency call-outs will help him achieve his goal. The Duke's dates have also been chosen to avoid clashing with the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Duke will be available to take part in national events staged over an extended four-day bank holiday weekend in June when it is expected he will join the Queen and other senior royals for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
The dates also mean that he and the Duchess will be able to join the Queen for the royal family's traditional gathering at Sandringham. The Duke should miss the worst of the Falklands weather but if he does venture out the MoD has a long list of items servicemen and women should bring with them.
On its website, suggested clothing includes walking socks, fleeces and thermal underwear while officers have to bring a shirt and tie. Under luxury items, the Duke is advised to take with him lavatory rolls, tissues, washing powder, toothpaste and his favourite shampoo. As there are no cash machines on the islands, the royal will have to cash cheques with the public cashier.
The MoD said in a statement that William would "complete a routine deployment to the Falkland Islands as part of a crew of four RAF personnel during the period February to March 2012.
"This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales' training and career progression as a Search and Rescue pilot within the RAF." The Duke will be posted alone, with the Duchess remaining behind at their home at Kensington Palace.
Last night The Duke, accompanied by the Duchess, attended a black-tie reception in aid of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal at St James's Palace.
The Duke launched the appeal - which aims to raise £12 million to develop the Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, into a world-renowned centre for remembrance - and became its patron. In a speech he said: "For Britons today, and for generations of Britons to come, the example of dedicating one’s life to helping and protecting others and to the service of our country remains core to our values as a Nation. Nowhere is this lesson better taught than through contemplation of the names inscribed on the memorials in Staffordshire."
So far half the sum needed has been donated or pledged, the Duke said.
Good on him for leaving the feathered nest. FI isn't all that bad, it is a lot closer to the equator than Aberdeen. And he will be there in summer.
He seems hopeful to build hours, not easy to do there with the infrequent calls and the sub-50% dispatch reliability of the old Sea Kings. I hear CHC is covering SAR there with the L2 until something more reliable is provided by the UK.
He seems hopeful to build hours, not easy to do there with the infrequent calls and the sub-50% dispatch reliability of the old Sea Kings. I hear CHC is covering SAR there with the L2 until something more reliable is provided by the UK.
it is a lot closer to the equator than Aberdeen.
.. sub-50% dispatch reliability of the old Sea Kings.
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Oh gee, here we go again.
Malabo, you're completely wrong both in your stats and assumption about CHC. Crab is closer, though, as usual, an implication creeps in that doesn't need to be there. The oil rig crew change-over in the Falklands is based on a once every 2 weeks charter flight. Hence, as many ducks as possible need to be in a row in that period. The oil company were not willing to accept even the small chance that no RAF SAR would ground the crew change flights, so they paid for a very limited SAR service to support the passenger Super Puma. It's day VMC, open water only because that's all that's needed and has been paid for. VMC works 95% of the time because of the limited approach facilities in the Falklands that limit IFR passenger flights, day and overwater are obvious.
The CHC limited offshore oil SAR service has absolutely nothing to do with the overall SAR cover for the Islands. That is provided by the RAF and the RAF only. Night medevacs or training trips to the rig are only launched if RAF cover is available - which it usually is.
Oh, "only one pilot who has actually done SAR" is, of course, Crab's code for "only one ex-RAF Sea King pilot". The rest don't count, I suppose
Malabo, you're completely wrong both in your stats and assumption about CHC. Crab is closer, though, as usual, an implication creeps in that doesn't need to be there. The oil rig crew change-over in the Falklands is based on a once every 2 weeks charter flight. Hence, as many ducks as possible need to be in a row in that period. The oil company were not willing to accept even the small chance that no RAF SAR would ground the crew change flights, so they paid for a very limited SAR service to support the passenger Super Puma. It's day VMC, open water only because that's all that's needed and has been paid for. VMC works 95% of the time because of the limited approach facilities in the Falklands that limit IFR passenger flights, day and overwater are obvious.
The CHC limited offshore oil SAR service has absolutely nothing to do with the overall SAR cover for the Islands. That is provided by the RAF and the RAF only. Night medevacs or training trips to the rig are only launched if RAF cover is available - which it usually is.
Oh, "only one pilot who has actually done SAR" is, of course, Crab's code for "only one ex-RAF Sea King pilot". The rest don't count, I suppose
Last edited by inputshaft; 11th Nov 2011 at 16:56.
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Thanks Jon,
And, in an effort to get this thread back on topic, I will certainly promise to dig into my wallet and buy HRH a coffee and a slice of bakewell tart in the West Store, if he ever makes it into Stanley.
And, in an effort to get this thread back on topic, I will certainly promise to dig into my wallet and buy HRH a coffee and a slice of bakewell tart in the West Store, if he ever makes it into Stanley.
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BBC News: The Duke of Cambridge's posting to the Falkland Islands has been condemned by Argentina as a "provocative act".
Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.
Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.
Six weeks? A penguin-spotting holiday! I've been to the the treeless, windy void - and, as I recall, the only Guinness was at Stanley's Upland Goose hotel. Is it still all nasty, innocuous and fair-haired tinned beer at MPA?
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Thread creep?
Some good stuff coming out here (esp Inputshaft's healthy dose of straightforward reality!), but how on earth did 'Prince William to Become a SAR Driver' degenerate into an argument about a single niche-contract L2?
Louis
Not any more: see Falklands Oil
Splot
Louis
Not any more: see Falklands Oil
Splot