UK Police helicopter budget cuts
Not sure that is correct BUDGIE... but as part of my head scratching on this whole project I am wondering whether the team may be due for another deletion soon.
The prospectus for the National Air support Project Leader job that Richard Watson got about a year ago seems to suggest that the post was only for 11 months and that must be just about expired.
An extension seems likely....
The prospectus for the National Air support Project Leader job that Richard Watson got about a year ago seems to suggest that the post was only for 11 months and that must be just about expired.
An extension seems likely....
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I can't believe that at a stroke of the pen they decided that the work OD was doing is no longer worthy. And getting rid of another member of the team without replacements (suitably qualified) is crazy. All that will be left to get this thing working in the right way is a couple of civil servants, and we all know how smart they can be! 
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Hiya PANews,
Actually, my colleagues and I are developing airframes and equipment for police aviation. I have to agree though, it is a bit of a closed shop and getting people to take us seriously is a problem. If anyone wants to know a bit more or thinks they might be able to help us out, please feel free to pm.....
Actually, my colleagues and I are developing airframes and equipment for police aviation. I have to agree though, it is a bit of a closed shop and getting people to take us seriously is a problem. If anyone wants to know a bit more or thinks they might be able to help us out, please feel free to pm.....
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
With dates getting nearer 
Any ideas on type, colour, supplier of flight coveralls for the crews?
Will we have a standard set of 'wings'?
Gold or platinum shoulder bars?
Crevats or roll necks?
I can see myself in this;
Any ideas on type, colour, supplier of flight coveralls for the crews?
Will we have a standard set of 'wings'?
Gold or platinum shoulder bars?
Crevats or roll necks?
I can see myself in this;
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
I can see myself in this;
I bet Mrs Sid can't though
I bet Mrs Sid can't though
Many years ago I had one like that, I picked it up at the USAF base outside Frankfurt; very nice, much better than the English ones I'd had before that, but a bit of a tight fit, if I remember rightly.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Blimey, this is going to be a long journey my friends 
http://www.hampshirepoliceauthority....ium_update.doc
http://www.hampshirepoliceauthority....ium_update.doc
Pre-existing contractual agreements for police air support services will have to be factored into plans. The current understanding is that the implementation of such a service will start in 2012, and will progress in stages to full completion in 2022.
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Sid, although I don't doubt that this will be a long process, the doc was dated Nov 2009 and a lot has changed since then. In my view there will be a period of regional collaborations before the National model will be implemented in full, and this could take years. So bases will move and some will close in line with contracts running out or being ended, and more consortiums being formed with a long term view of National Air Support evolving from theses consortiums. I would have put the time frame at 5 years rather than 10, but who knows?
As far as flight suits are concerned, does Lycra come in a fire retardant form?
As far as flight suits are concerned, does Lycra come in a fire retardant form?
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Can't quite make out the embroidery on that suit "-----lingus" ?
And why does it look like someone's pointing a sawn off shotgun at her,
has she already been seconded to NPAS ?
And why does it look like someone's pointing a sawn off shotgun at her,
has she already been seconded to NPAS ?
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Ok FfF we'll see 
How about this then?
BBC News - New service to provide police helicopters
I wonder how he now feels having learnt just 2 months later from the future leader of NPAS, Hampshire Police Chief Constable Alex Marshall, who spearheads the proposals that under the plans, "Sussex and Surrey would reduce to one aircraft, combine and relocate to a new base at Dunsfold".
Maybe he could be feeling that this will be a Skoda level of service that he'd better get used to.
How about this then?
BBC News - New service to provide police helicopters
In August (2010) the chairman of the Hampshire branch of the Police Federation, John Apter, warned about plans to merge the force's helicopters with those of Sussex and Surrey.
He said: "I'm confident the service won't be badly affected, but we have to accept that in reducing from three to two aircraft, there has got to be a level of service that is diminished. The service I hope we will obtain will be adequate but it's clearly not the Rolls-Royce service we've been used to."
He said: "I'm confident the service won't be badly affected, but we have to accept that in reducing from three to two aircraft, there has got to be a level of service that is diminished. The service I hope we will obtain will be adequate but it's clearly not the Rolls-Royce service we've been used to."
Maybe he could be feeling that this will be a Skoda level of service that he'd better get used to.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
I think a Trabby has a bit more kudos than a Skoda
Last edited by SilsoeSid; 16th Jan 2011 at 18:06.
A slight update on the Apter position.... after expressing disquiet on comments relating to the above appearing in a certain magazine a letter from him was run in the November issue...
Dear Sir
I have [read] an article which appeared in the September issue of your magazine. The article commented on the loss of Hampshire dedicated Air Support Unit and went on to comment about my reaction.
For the record I attended a number of meetings and a presentation at the Police Authority with regard to the business case around the collaboration between the three forces. What became clear to me was that because of the differences of ability between the fixed wing and rotary there was concern that there could be a more limited cover in certain parts of the force area such as the IOW and the New Forest. I raised these issues and was advised that measures were being looked at which would prevent this from occurring.
I have always maintained that reducing three air craft across four counties to two would not provide a better service as was suggested by some, but from the business case presented I had to accept it would be an adequate service, and that £8 million in savings was a significant amount. I am therefore convinced by the savings, but reducing the service to an acceptable level is a backwards step and is a sad day for Policing. As you will appreciate, I am not the decision maker, and I am certainly no expert in air support so I have to take on face value the content of the business case, and hope the information contained within it is factual and has been fully consulted.
In relation to the concerns raised I have put the Police Authority and the Chief Constable on notice that I will be monitoring the coverage of Air Support over Hampshire and the IOW under the new consortium and will highlight any issues we find.
I found the article made massive assumptions about my involvement and I would ask that so the views of the Police Federation are not misrepresented you publish a correction in your next article.
Kind regards
John Apter
Chairman
Hampshire Police Federation
I followed this up in the light of developments last month but have had no reply yet.
Dear Sir
I have [read] an article which appeared in the September issue of your magazine. The article commented on the loss of Hampshire dedicated Air Support Unit and went on to comment about my reaction.
For the record I attended a number of meetings and a presentation at the Police Authority with regard to the business case around the collaboration between the three forces. What became clear to me was that because of the differences of ability between the fixed wing and rotary there was concern that there could be a more limited cover in certain parts of the force area such as the IOW and the New Forest. I raised these issues and was advised that measures were being looked at which would prevent this from occurring.
I have always maintained that reducing three air craft across four counties to two would not provide a better service as was suggested by some, but from the business case presented I had to accept it would be an adequate service, and that £8 million in savings was a significant amount. I am therefore convinced by the savings, but reducing the service to an acceptable level is a backwards step and is a sad day for Policing. As you will appreciate, I am not the decision maker, and I am certainly no expert in air support so I have to take on face value the content of the business case, and hope the information contained within it is factual and has been fully consulted.
In relation to the concerns raised I have put the Police Authority and the Chief Constable on notice that I will be monitoring the coverage of Air Support over Hampshire and the IOW under the new consortium and will highlight any issues we find.
I found the article made massive assumptions about my involvement and I would ask that so the views of the Police Federation are not misrepresented you publish a correction in your next article.
Kind regards
John Apter
Chairman
Hampshire Police Federation
I followed this up in the light of developments last month but have had no reply yet.
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Have you given POLKA the benefit of your real aviation experience? Have you asked an aviation question on POLKA?
No, then like voting you have no grounds to complain IMHO.
No, then like voting you have no grounds to complain IMHO.
My comments were based on the fact that, of the few & infrequent comments on POLKA, there was nothing of substance, either questions or answers.
There are many who post here who, over time, have let more slip than they might wish, to maintain anonimity. Some might consider taking more care.
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500e - if your question is to me, I'm not (W)warning anyone, just reminding contributors that continued anonimity in this environment (if desired) means being vigilant over the content of every post made! Not doing so could "out" the poster and leave him/her vulnerable in other areas/forums, I'd suggest?
Kind regards
Jed
whoops . . .
Kind regards
Jed
whoops . . .
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Oh dear does that mean that we shouldn't contribute to the rotorheads calendar or the rotorhead around the world (videos or round the world) threads? Heaven forbid the photos of everyone thread or even give advice on any specific area or subject on PPRuNe.
Here's me worrying that people thought what I say wasn't based on some user knowledge or background, no matter which way one reads my posts.
Perhaps those that relish the anonymity shouldn't be so touchy when others don't take their words as gospel.
Rumour has it that the question;
'Is it true that NPAS will be creating 24 new managerial posts and that the pay scales of those posts have already agreed, before any of the Air Operation factors such as aircraft, pilotage, bases, unit management and maintenance have been finalised ?
... was removed from the 'community' ?
NPIA will be phased out by 2012 ... 24 jobs created in NPAS by 2012
Here's me worrying that people thought what I say wasn't based on some user knowledge or background, no matter which way one reads my posts.
Perhaps those that relish the anonymity shouldn't be so touchy when others don't take their words as gospel.
Rumour has it that the question;
'Is it true that NPAS will be creating 24 new managerial posts and that the pay scales of those posts have already agreed, before any of the Air Operation factors such as aircraft, pilotage, bases, unit management and maintenance have been finalised ?
... was removed from the 'community' ?
NPIA will be phased out by 2012 ... 24 jobs created in NPAS by 2012
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Censorship
I can say in response to the quote
Nothing of the like has been removed from any of the POLKA aviation communities. and I know this as a FACT and not a rumour.
Rumour has it that the question;
'Is it true that NPAS will be creating 24 new managerial posts and that the pay scales of those posts have already agreed, before any of the Air Operation factors such as aircraft, pilotage, bases, unit management and maintenance have been finalised ?
... was removed from the 'community' ?
'Is it true that NPAS will be creating 24 new managerial posts and that the pay scales of those posts have already agreed, before any of the Air Operation factors such as aircraft, pilotage, bases, unit management and maintenance have been finalised ?
... was removed from the 'community' ?