The future of UK SAR, post SAR-H
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Jim - RUSI
RUSI specialises in research, research is about what has happened, what has happened is in the past, QED what is passed is interesting and relates to today and the future. It's called 'learning the lessons of the PAST!!!!'
The Wx3 was technically more advanced than the a/c that succeeded it at least it was in concept if not in execution, being analogue rather than digital. The question is was a simplex system with basic instrumentation better than it's analogue duplex predecessor with superb displays? The answer is that reliability trumps clever-dick design every time. Now how has the Merlin fared? What will the next generation displays have to entertain and inform I wonder?
G.
PS where's the link to the RUSI article you mention?
The Wx3 was technically more advanced than the a/c that succeeded it at least it was in concept if not in execution, being analogue rather than digital. The question is was a simplex system with basic instrumentation better than it's analogue duplex predecessor with superb displays? The answer is that reliability trumps clever-dick design every time. Now how has the Merlin fared? What will the next generation displays have to entertain and inform I wonder?
G.
PS where's the link to the RUSI article you mention?
PS where's the link to the RUSI article you mention?
Note the use of the word 'future' in the title!
Most of this is much more appropriate to the NPAS thread than this one. However, there is some stuff about SAR in this document. Some of it is SAR viewed from a large quiet desk in a large noisy city but nevertheless some important questions are being posed.
Interesting article - sadly for the author, time is running out!
Don't like the title of the third chapter though...brings back unhappy memories...
Don't like the title of the third chapter though...brings back unhappy memories...
So what's the latest? Any new dates for the process? ...
The latest published dates are from February and are in here
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publication...to-bidders.pdf
at "4.11 Procurement Timetable".
That makes the next event on Monday 30th but before that can happen they need to be told who's invited and who's out.
___________________
Quote of the month: "This is all about cost you know."
Here are the short-listed bidders who are invited to participate in Phase 1 Stage 2.
LOT 1
(Larger spec. Sumburgh, Stornoway, Culdrose, Leconfield and Valley)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
LOT 2
(Smaller spec. Lee-on-the-Solent, Chivenor, Prestwick, Lossiemouth and Wattisham)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
4. Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen N.V
5. Osprey Consortium (Babcock, ERA, BIH)
LOT 3
(Service requirements of both Lot 1 and Lot 2)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
4. Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems Ltd
5. Osprey Consortium
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publication...tage-1-sar.pdf
LOT 1
(Larger spec. Sumburgh, Stornoway, Culdrose, Leconfield and Valley)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
LOT 2
(Smaller spec. Lee-on-the-Solent, Chivenor, Prestwick, Lossiemouth and Wattisham)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
4. Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen N.V
5. Osprey Consortium (Babcock, ERA, BIH)
LOT 3
(Service requirements of both Lot 1 and Lot 2)
1. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd
2. Bristow Helicopters Ltd
3. CHC Scotia Ltd
4. Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems Ltd
5. Osprey Consortium
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publication...tage-1-sar.pdf
Who was it that came up with the 'this is all about cost' line?
I couldn't possibly comment.
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The Flat Earth Society
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Surprised at how little interest this topic generates these days especially as the latest list of bidders has just been posted on the Department of Transport's website? Does anyone think the EC175 will be suitable for the Lot 2 bases? Eurocopter seem very quiet on where this aircraft is at the moment. With the UK's investment in the AW189 its difficult to believe that this aircraft isn't a natural choice for any bidder. Bristow and Bond have the 189 on order so its seems to point to what they might be hoping to fly.
Bristow have also been described as the launch customer for the EC175. It probably ticks many boxes for Lot 2 but I don't know if it does so in all the right combinations of load, endurance, altitude and conditions. I'm sure people known to us will be trying to tick those boxes, even on a Sunday afternoon. 
Aw 189 looks a bit '21st century Sea King'. Perhaps not quite Lot 1 and maybe over-sized for Lot 2 unless ... somebody notices the deliberate mistake: weakness in the DfT's approach to land SAR because they just wish it would go away.
Not going away.
DASA, Feb 2012:
84 Land
6 Coast
13 Maritime
(MCA 43, unknown split.)
DASA, Mar 2012
75 Land
18 Coast
16 Maritime
(MCA 42, unknown split.)
And what will all that head-scratching about Lot 2 a/c with 2 big doors do to the a/c choice for Lot1?
Aw 189 looks a bit '21st century Sea King'. Perhaps not quite Lot 1 and maybe over-sized for Lot 2 unless ... somebody notices the deliberate mistake: weakness in the DfT's approach to land SAR because they just wish it would go away.
Not going away.
DASA, Feb 2012:
84 Land
6 Coast
13 Maritime
(MCA 43, unknown split.)
DASA, Mar 2012
75 Land
18 Coast
16 Maritime
(MCA 42, unknown split.)
And what will all that head-scratching about Lot 2 a/c with 2 big doors do to the a/c choice for Lot1?
Last edited by jimf671; 3rd May 2012 at 14:40.
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Competition is reducing
All Bidders
To inform you that OSPREY (Babcock, BIH and ERA) has withdrawn from the competition and we are content that they are no longer bound by any constraints within the Contract Letting Process Agreement (CLPA).
So 3 competitors left for Lot 1, 4 left for Lots 2 and 3 - sweepstake on the next faller?
To inform you that OSPREY (Babcock, BIH and ERA) has withdrawn from the competition and we are content that they are no longer bound by any constraints within the Contract Letting Process Agreement (CLPA).
So 3 competitors left for Lot 1, 4 left for Lots 2 and 3 - sweepstake on the next faller?
I wonder who is going to be doing the technical compliance assessment?
You are not going to be the SME, OK?
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I was told that the DfT team has chosen its own way for this competiton. It would be too easy to think this is just SAR-H reborne but it's not. The MoD has withdrawn in most respects and thats how it is.
As a result, an independent evaluation consultancy has been contracted in to do the technical assessment after the DfT ran a short and swift competition for the role before the last submission. As far as I understand it, they are composed of a suitable range of technical experts that meets the DfT's evaluation needs.
I think the DfT will be more worried about the reducing number of competitors before the next submission is due
As a result, an independent evaluation consultancy has been contracted in to do the technical assessment after the DfT ran a short and swift competition for the role before the last submission. As far as I understand it, they are composed of a suitable range of technical experts that meets the DfT's evaluation needs.
I think the DfT will be more worried about the reducing number of competitors before the next submission is due
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a suitable range of technical experts
As has been seen in these pages over the years, a lot of people claim to know what they're talking about in SAR but relatively few actually do.