UK Police To Get Six New Helicopters
"I can't think of any police unit that operates night HEMS as standard."
I can.
I can.
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The Scottish HEMS is paid for by the government, although the aircraft are leased, I believe. England & Wales are paid for by charities.
2 police units do night HEMS: Sussex and Wiltshire. N Wales used to, but I believe may not or only occasionally now. There are limitations imposed, as you might expect. Neither of these HEMS Units uses NVG, I believe. (N Wales does use NVG).
All UK police units can do CASEVACs (which is last resort, saving life, land and scoop) stuff. Some do a fair amount, some hardly ever.
I am not sure where the police NVG Units are exactly, these days. They were initially limited to only using NVG above 500 ft, and not for landings (DUH), but there was a move to progress to landing on NVG at some point.
Nuts
2 police units do night HEMS: Sussex and Wiltshire. N Wales used to, but I believe may not or only occasionally now. There are limitations imposed, as you might expect. Neither of these HEMS Units uses NVG, I believe. (N Wales does use NVG).
All UK police units can do CASEVACs (which is last resort, saving life, land and scoop) stuff. Some do a fair amount, some hardly ever.
I am not sure where the police NVG Units are exactly, these days. They were initially limited to only using NVG above 500 ft, and not for landings (DUH), but there was a move to progress to landing on NVG at some point.
Nuts
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Interesting ( AFAIK) that the NPIA agreement requires new Police helicopters to be NVG compatible, yet less than a handful of Units fly on NVG's.
Meanwhile does this mean that the "customers" who don't need to fly on NVG's, or have no intention of going down that road, end up paying more for spares - instruments / lighting etc. ??
Meanwhile does this mean that the "customers" who don't need to fly on NVG's, or have no intention of going down that road, end up paying more for spares - instruments / lighting etc. ??
Thread Starter
Whirls dear lady....the image of you in suspenders and hiking boots with that green spiked hair and Banjo in hand seems a bit frightening somehow!
Hovering AND talking
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Well it seems both tbc and Thud are too coy to respond to a lady's request but thankfully, at least one gentleman has removed my suspense.
Does Wiltshire have a coast line?
Cheers
Whirls
Does Wiltshire have a coast line?
Cheers
Whirls
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They will be assigned to Police Units in Suffolk, Cheshire, North Wales, Cleveland, Midlands and Chilterns
Last time I was near the Cheshire unit they had a good old Islander.......... if they changing to rotary there must be the odd job going there for some one. Unless of course the drivers there are duel type rated.
Last time I was near the Cheshire unit they had a good old Islander.......... if they changing to rotary there must be the odd job going there for some one. Unless of course the drivers there are duel type rated.
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They will be assigned to........
The Home Office will provide a grant towards part of the purchase cost ( typically up to 40% ), but the force(s) involved then have to find the remainder.
Are Cheshire fully signed up now then ?
Oops - sorry Whirlygig, I really didn't mean to be rude but I hadn't checked back on this thread for a while. Am rarely accused of coyness and certainly don't wish to be known for my churlishness either - even if it be true. As for Wiltshire's coastline, I believe there are 29 flights/locks of it less than a league from the Wilts HQ...
My post was referring to the fact that tbc is currently on one of the 2 units and used to be a reg'lar fixture at t'other one too. In a previous job I used to enjoy shifts at both (covering for tbc's absence at the S Coast base) and thoroughly enjoyed the night HEMS tasks. I couldn't then (and still can't now) believe that our glorious Committee Against Aviation is so un-convinced of the worth of NVG that they forbid their use under these and most other circumstances. As someone else said earlier, for those of us used to using them under far more demanding conditions in the military, to be denied them now is actually legislating against situational awareness and, ultimately, safety.
My post was referring to the fact that tbc is currently on one of the 2 units and used to be a reg'lar fixture at t'other one too. In a previous job I used to enjoy shifts at both (covering for tbc's absence at the S Coast base) and thoroughly enjoyed the night HEMS tasks. I couldn't then (and still can't now) believe that our glorious Committee Against Aviation is so un-convinced of the worth of NVG that they forbid their use under these and most other circumstances. As someone else said earlier, for those of us used to using them under far more demanding conditions in the military, to be denied them now is actually legislating against situational awareness and, ultimately, safety.
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Merseyside will be due a new helicopter soon, it would make some sense to join forces with Cheshire. Is the political will there?
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Sorry Thud but the Caen Hill flight ain't, with the best will in the world, a coastline Although I suppose if all 29 gates were left open, there would be a tidal wave in Bradford upon Avon 
Spurious clues aren't fair
Cheers
Whirls
Although I suppose if all 29 gates were left open, there would be a tidal wave in Bradford upon Avon Spurious clues aren't fair
Cheers
Whirls
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Whywould Strathclyde reject Lothians calls? I was under the impression if the Police heli departed Glasgow for the Lothians it was being charged out at £1000 per hour?
HJ
HJ
That paint scheme on 900-00128 or N4006S may have been a change of plan.
When it was first noted there were suggestions that was off to Luxembourg as they have similar MD902s in similar colours [well dark blue/black and red rather than yellow].
Certainly Mesa, where is was painted up, appeared to have been somewhat in the dark over the whole thing.
When it was first noted there were suggestions that was off to Luxembourg as they have similar MD902s in similar colours [well dark blue/black and red rather than yellow].
Certainly Mesa, where is was painted up, appeared to have been somewhat in the dark over the whole thing.
