The UK Childrens Air Ambulance - Info??
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Looking at the Flight Times page on the link that Coconutty posted, it must be a super-duper S76 they use/are getting.
London - Aberdeen ( approx 500 miles) in 105 minutes = around 286 mph
London - Edinburgh (approx 400 miles) in 85 minutes = around 282 mph
London - Dumfries ( approx 340 miles) in 70 minutes = around 291 mph
and
London - Kendal ( approx 260 miles ) sits right on their 60 minute range ring.
To be fair, their own page on the aircraft gives a cruising speed of 180 mph.
Crab, I mentioned your point about the current provision to one of the collectors, and in response, he implied that in the future, the military would not be in involved in SAR and that the new commercial organisation would not be equipped for the kind of transfers the TCAA were aiming to carry out.
I gave up at that point and went to find the store manager.
London - Aberdeen ( approx 500 miles) in 105 minutes = around 286 mph
London - Edinburgh (approx 400 miles) in 85 minutes = around 282 mph
London - Dumfries ( approx 340 miles) in 70 minutes = around 291 mph
and
London - Kendal ( approx 260 miles ) sits right on their 60 minute range ring.
To be fair, their own page on the aircraft gives a cruising speed of 180 mph.
Crab, I mentioned your point about the current provision to one of the collectors, and in response, he implied that in the future, the military would not be in involved in SAR and that the new commercial organisation would not be equipped for the kind of transfers the TCAA were aiming to carry out.
I gave up at that point and went to find the store manager.
He has been fed a line then Cpt_Pugwash - the existing CHC contractors in Stornoway and Sumburgh spend a lot of time doing transfers to hospitals from remote islands and the like - SARH will bring the same S-92 aircraft to the whole country and, although they won't be military aircraft and only some will be flown by military crews, the capability will still be there ( and even enhanced by having a modern, faster aircraft with a ramp).
The current AAs are very limited where they can go for hospital transfers at night - they certainly don't land in Regent's Park like we do - that is the LS for Gt Ormond St, the leading children's hospital in UK I believe - so if TCAA can't go there by night, where else won't they be able to fly to?
Someone is being hoodwinked about the need for and capability of the proposed TCAA - maybe it is just a nice little earner for those organising the fundraising.
The current AAs are very limited where they can go for hospital transfers at night - they certainly don't land in Regent's Park like we do - that is the LS for Gt Ormond St, the leading children's hospital in UK I believe - so if TCAA can't go there by night, where else won't they be able to fly to?
Someone is being hoodwinked about the need for and capability of the proposed TCAA - maybe it is just a nice little earner for those organising the fundraising.
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Oh dear;
Isn't it about time that someone jumped on this "charity" for good. I know one of the "principals" and he is one of the most unprincipled people I have ever met. I believe that this will go no-where and people will just hand over money for no reason. If the person concerned wants to sue me for my comments, then please do. I will happily stand in court and describe what I know and why you should not be allowed near charity funds or other peoples' money in any way.
Isn't it about time that someone jumped on this "charity" for good. I know one of the "principals" and he is one of the most unprincipled people I have ever met. I believe that this will go no-where and people will just hand over money for no reason. If the person concerned wants to sue me for my comments, then please do. I will happily stand in court and describe what I know and why you should not be allowed near charity funds or other peoples' money in any way.
I do not know about the 'original' Children's Air Ambulance being jumped on and put out of business but I now hear that there is yet another with similar aims being formed.
The original in a 'Southern' thing but the new interloper is stirring in the north with different backers.
That is about as much as I have heard.
The original in a 'Southern' thing but the new interloper is stirring in the north with different backers.
That is about as much as I have heard.
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For up to date and accurate information on this Charity go to
www.thechildrensairambulance.co.uk
There have been substantial changes to this organisation in the last year.
A new Trustee board and a new senior management team has been in place since April/May 2010. None of the Trustees or staff have any interest or holdings in any aviation businesses or organisations.
The Children's Air Ambulance is a bona-fide registered Charity no 1111780, who submit returns to both the Charity Commission and Companies House.
The Charity's governance procedures, fundraising activities, lottery management and accounts have been examined by the Charity Commission and Gaming Commission and bar a couple of minor administrative recommendations, the Charity was given a clean bill of health.
The Charity has been actively fundraising in the anticipation that if sufficient funds have been raised, as are forecast, then it is likely we will see the launch of a national air ambulance for the inter-hospital transfer of critically ill children later in 2011.
No helicopter operator has yet been awarded a service contract, but the Charity will offer interested parties the opportunity to tender for such a contract at a time the Trustees are confident in the long-term robustness of the income streams and sufficient reserves have been accumulated.
The Charity is yet to determine a suitable operational base for a rotary aircraft which will enable it to provide substantial coverage to England, Wales and N.I.
The Charity are actively engaging with appropriate organisations from the aviation industry, the medical fraternity and the air ambulance sector to address deployment issues, develop a service that is fit-for-purpose and to co-ordinate activities and avoid any misunderstandings .
www.thechildrensairambulance.co.uk
There have been substantial changes to this organisation in the last year.
A new Trustee board and a new senior management team has been in place since April/May 2010. None of the Trustees or staff have any interest or holdings in any aviation businesses or organisations.
The Children's Air Ambulance is a bona-fide registered Charity no 1111780, who submit returns to both the Charity Commission and Companies House.
The Charity's governance procedures, fundraising activities, lottery management and accounts have been examined by the Charity Commission and Gaming Commission and bar a couple of minor administrative recommendations, the Charity was given a clean bill of health.
The Charity has been actively fundraising in the anticipation that if sufficient funds have been raised, as are forecast, then it is likely we will see the launch of a national air ambulance for the inter-hospital transfer of critically ill children later in 2011.
No helicopter operator has yet been awarded a service contract, but the Charity will offer interested parties the opportunity to tender for such a contract at a time the Trustees are confident in the long-term robustness of the income streams and sufficient reserves have been accumulated.
The Charity is yet to determine a suitable operational base for a rotary aircraft which will enable it to provide substantial coverage to England, Wales and N.I.
The Charity are actively engaging with appropriate organisations from the aviation industry, the medical fraternity and the air ambulance sector to address deployment issues, develop a service that is fit-for-purpose and to co-ordinate activities and avoid any misunderstandings .
BeachHutBoy. Great name by the way. Is that where you spend your time?
A few questions.
- how will you (sorry, the Children's Air Ambulance) be looking to work with the existing air ambulance community, are you perhaps seeking to join the AAA? Do you think they will welcome your new plans now?
- Will your fundraisers still wear other air ambulance operation's clothing (or 'passing off', as it's sometimes called)?
- will your fundraising materials still be using pictures of existing air ambulances without permission?
- will you be absolutely clear with all potential donors that your service does not actually exist and is therefore an 'aspiration' (or 'pipedream', as some might call it)
- I see that your EC135 will still be able to get from London to beyond Aberdeen in 160 mins. Is it a special one?
- How much is your new Chief executive taking as a salary each year?
- Would you like to share with us all how much funds have been raised so far and are contributing to the £2m you need for a year's operation, bearing in mind that you have been fundraising for 5 years?
- And can you give us a breakdown of the £2m a year? I know a charity that spends £1.2m keeping an air ambulance flying locally in one county, for 5 days/8 hours. The costs of going to 7 days/12 hours locally is almost exponentially greater, so 24/7 for £2m, nationally? Wow, you must be really, really good.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but that's a start.
A few questions.
- how will you (sorry, the Children's Air Ambulance) be looking to work with the existing air ambulance community, are you perhaps seeking to join the AAA? Do you think they will welcome your new plans now?
- Will your fundraisers still wear other air ambulance operation's clothing (or 'passing off', as it's sometimes called)?
- will your fundraising materials still be using pictures of existing air ambulances without permission?
- will you be absolutely clear with all potential donors that your service does not actually exist and is therefore an 'aspiration' (or 'pipedream', as some might call it)
- I see that your EC135 will still be able to get from London to beyond Aberdeen in 160 mins. Is it a special one?
- How much is your new Chief executive taking as a salary each year?
- Would you like to share with us all how much funds have been raised so far and are contributing to the £2m you need for a year's operation, bearing in mind that you have been fundraising for 5 years?
- And can you give us a breakdown of the £2m a year? I know a charity that spends £1.2m keeping an air ambulance flying locally in one county, for 5 days/8 hours. The costs of going to 7 days/12 hours locally is almost exponentially greater, so 24/7 for £2m, nationally? Wow, you must be really, really good.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but that's a start.
BeachHutBoy - 206Jock has some very valid questions and I look forward to your answers to them. I hope you don't mind me adding a few more for you:-
- I see from the Charity Commission website here that you (sorry, the Children's Air Ambulance) managed to raise £56,542 and spend £52,232 in 2009. How do you plan to ramp up your fund-raising from the 2009 level to your stated need for £2M in these "times of austerity"?
- Your earlier publicity suggested you would be operating an S76. What made you change your mind to the EC135, and which CAA-approved operator will you be using for your planned service?
- I see the website mentions five trustees and the Charity Commission only know about three of them - Are you telling the public the true situation via the website, or telling the Charity Commission the truth? Can't be both, of course.
- Does it cost £2M a year to run, or has your online donation subcontractor got it wrong when they say £1.5M ?
thx
- I see from the Charity Commission website here that you (sorry, the Children's Air Ambulance) managed to raise £56,542 and spend £52,232 in 2009. How do you plan to ramp up your fund-raising from the 2009 level to your stated need for £2M in these "times of austerity"?
- Your earlier publicity suggested you would be operating an S76. What made you change your mind to the EC135, and which CAA-approved operator will you be using for your planned service?
- I see the website mentions five trustees and the Charity Commission only know about three of them - Are you telling the public the true situation via the website, or telling the Charity Commission the truth? Can't be both, of course.
- Does it cost £2M a year to run, or has your online donation subcontractor got it wrong when they say £1.5M ?
thx
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Another question BeachHut Boy.
But, pardon me if I'm being somewhat naive or ignorant, but when you say governance I'm assuming you mean Clinical Governance?
Why would you need to pay for clinical governance, for a service that currently doesn't actually operate?
But, pardon me if I'm being somewhat naive or ignorant, but when you say governance I'm assuming you mean Clinical Governance?
Why would you need to pay for clinical governance, for a service that currently doesn't actually operate?
Having visited the web site and coming from a HEMS background, I have to say this set up is one of two things:
1. A very well meaning but extremely amateurish attempt at setting up an organisation, one which will fail very early on if they don't get the right advice and support,
or,
a SCAM.
If it is the latter - the appropriate authorities need to be informed without delay and before someone loses a lot of money contributing to this 'scheme'.
I don't really know who best to inform...should it be the police? Advice anyone?
1. A very well meaning but extremely amateurish attempt at setting up an organisation, one which will fail very early on if they don't get the right advice and support,
or,
a SCAM.
If it is the latter - the appropriate authorities need to be informed without delay and before someone loses a lot of money contributing to this 'scheme'.
I don't really know who best to inform...should it be the police? Advice anyone?
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In the 2005/06 accounts more was paid to "consultants" then came in in income. Were the "consultants" in fact one man?
Did a national newspaper look at the idea of backing the charity completely and then suddenly back off after a little background research?
Are you ever going to give your collectors a briefing about helicopter ops so that they can answer questions with a little truth?
How many times will an EMS equipped EC135 stop between Aberdeen and London? (quite a lot actually so the real flying time of around around 3 hours 10 mins will have an extra hour or so of sitting around in an un-heated aircraft as it is re-fuelled)
Are the original founders involved in any way?
What were the original trustees reasons for resigning?
The helicopter world is small and very close knit. Should you be scamming you will come very un-stuck very fast.
Did a national newspaper look at the idea of backing the charity completely and then suddenly back off after a little background research?
Are you ever going to give your collectors a briefing about helicopter ops so that they can answer questions with a little truth?
How many times will an EMS equipped EC135 stop between Aberdeen and London? (quite a lot actually so the real flying time of around around 3 hours 10 mins will have an extra hour or so of sitting around in an un-heated aircraft as it is re-fuelled)
Are the original founders involved in any way?
What were the original trustees reasons for resigning?
The helicopter world is small and very close knit. Should you be scamming you will come very un-stuck very fast.
The air ambulance community have been moaning about this, the first, Children's Air Ambulance for a while and that is what lay behind some of my earlier posts. The AAA say a great deal of 'their' money is being creamed off by the CAA collectors [and others] to no good end. Most of this is contained in the earlier posts.
At the time I approached the Charity Commission about this directly and they 'investigated' .... well if sitting on your hands in a Liverpool office and ringing up the people concerned can be taken as 'investigation' .... but found nothing to worry about. This is just one of a number of instances where the CC have been found to be poor investigators of matters raised with them and yet they are potentially the only body that undertakes this.
It would seem that the money raised in the last accounts represents little more than the annual cost of the Torquay building that is the base and some of the expences likely due to collectors. That the base is also apparently the home of the main Trustees would seem to be against the spirit of charity fundraising but is not likely to be illegal.
That there is a Children's Air Ambulance 2 on the horizon in darkest Yorkshire suggests that the set up is seen as a good heart rending business model. Save a life is one thing, save a child and the purses spring open.
The original drive behind the Children's Air Ambulance [1] is/was Paul Forster a very well regarded helicopter man who ran the conventional air ambulances for Cabair and saw a CAA as the next stage to go. He was last heard of involved with fixed wing.
You can find him via Google but links between him and the current set ups of CAA1 and CAA2 are not evident to me. He was the CAA CEO back in 2007 but there is nothing with a recent date that remains active. That said, a one time reader of PAN he suddenly withdrew himself from the database a year ago.... after the stories about CAA1 appeared.
At the time I approached the Charity Commission about this directly and they 'investigated' .... well if sitting on your hands in a Liverpool office and ringing up the people concerned can be taken as 'investigation' .... but found nothing to worry about. This is just one of a number of instances where the CC have been found to be poor investigators of matters raised with them and yet they are potentially the only body that undertakes this.
It would seem that the money raised in the last accounts represents little more than the annual cost of the Torquay building that is the base and some of the expences likely due to collectors. That the base is also apparently the home of the main Trustees would seem to be against the spirit of charity fundraising but is not likely to be illegal.
That there is a Children's Air Ambulance 2 on the horizon in darkest Yorkshire suggests that the set up is seen as a good heart rending business model. Save a life is one thing, save a child and the purses spring open.
The original drive behind the Children's Air Ambulance [1] is/was Paul Forster a very well regarded helicopter man who ran the conventional air ambulances for Cabair and saw a CAA as the next stage to go. He was last heard of involved with fixed wing.
You can find him via Google but links between him and the current set ups of CAA1 and CAA2 are not evident to me. He was the CAA CEO back in 2007 but there is nothing with a recent date that remains active. That said, a one time reader of PAN he suddenly withdrew himself from the database a year ago.... after the stories about CAA1 appeared.
- I see the website mentions five trustees and the Charity Commission only know about three of them - Are you telling the public the true situation via the website, or telling the Charity Commission the truth? Can't be both, of course.
PANews - as I understand it, many of the CAA 'volunteers' are paid charity collectors or "chuggers" as they are known. I'd hypothesise that much of the money raised is being paid to them.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of scammers willing to pass themselves off as air ambulance charities, it is seen on local level all the time. The apparent unwillingness of the poster above to answer any questions does nothing to enhance their credibility.
I see their Wikipedia 'advert' is due for deletion soon. It contains some interesting narrative. The Children's Air Ambulance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cheap EC135 Time?
Interesting to see that their estimated flying cost of an EC135 is £575 per hour...
Fantasy or reality?
Perhaps all the aircraft costings are in their annual budget and that projected figure is just to cover the pilot's hourly salary...!
Simon
Fantasy or reality?
Perhaps all the aircraft costings are in their annual budget and that projected figure is just to cover the pilot's hourly salary...!
Simon
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Doesn't look like a lot of room in their own back yard for a 135 ....
Nice place to "work" from though - I wonder how much of all that kindly diverted,
I mean donated money, went towards the mortgage of "Valley View", sorry, I mean Office running costs ?
Anyone calling themselves "CAA" and purporting to be a charity
are onto a loser straight away in my book
Nice place to "work" from though - I wonder how much of all that kindly diverted,
I mean donated money, went towards the mortgage of "Valley View", sorry, I mean Office running costs ?
Anyone calling themselves "CAA" and purporting to be a charity
are onto a loser straight away in my book
The house cost £420K in August 2007 according to this page.
Also, to keep track on the "disappearing Trustees".
A couple of days back the website showed five trustees - Ray Dowding. Dr Shelly Riphagen, Robert Gould, Peter Frisby and Neil Mills. As of now, it shows Ray Dowding, Robert Gould and Peter Frisby
Back then the Charity Commission showed Dowding, Gould and Riphagen. Now it shows just Dowding and Gould
Wonder if this thread has prompted any changes..?
Also, to keep track on the "disappearing Trustees".
A couple of days back the website showed five trustees - Ray Dowding. Dr Shelly Riphagen, Robert Gould, Peter Frisby and Neil Mills. As of now, it shows Ray Dowding, Robert Gould and Peter Frisby
Back then the Charity Commission showed Dowding, Gould and Riphagen. Now it shows just Dowding and Gould
Wonder if this thread has prompted any changes..?
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My advice to anyone thinking about donating money to this would be to think again. There are far too many air ambulances already and the addition of a dedicated airframe just for flying one group of patients is simply not needed. In fact, it's not the airframe that has to be specially adapted, most existing aircraft are suitable--it is the experience that the medical team brings to paediatric care that matters. Whether you are in an air ambulance, SAR helicopter, MCA helicopter or even a fixed wing aircraft, the medical team brings the expertise and equipment with them.
There is far too much duplication of effort regarding HEMS services and adding another airframe to the mix does little more than diverting valuable charity money away from those organisations already supplying services. It's really weird that most people look at the helicopter as the ultimate life saving tool when, in fact, it's a combination of a flexible transport platform and the team it brings that is the true life saving tool.
Bottom Line: save your money and spend wisely.
There is far too much duplication of effort regarding HEMS services and adding another airframe to the mix does little more than diverting valuable charity money away from those organisations already supplying services. It's really weird that most people look at the helicopter as the ultimate life saving tool when, in fact, it's a combination of a flexible transport platform and the team it brings that is the true life saving tool.
Bottom Line: save your money and spend wisely.