Just seen this job as well in Newquay:

Ive done plenty of that, usually when doing night decks with Crab

Don't fancy that salary very much

Air Steward (Trolley Dolly) starting rate.

In what way is 'wincing' miss spelt?

It should be 'mincing' It is trolley-dolly wages after all! What on earth do they expect to get for £20K????

I guess that it could be tied in with this:

I've done plenty of that as well. Usually after doing night decks with Crab

Here is a report of some 'posh hovering' a few weeks ago that may serve to demonstrate aspects of crew roles and the purpose of the SAR helicopter as principally an access tool.

Royal Navy helicopter lifts ill man from cruise vessel

Should have read "whingeing"

I'm more impressed by the PR machine that sent this out. Shame it was only a technician and not a paramedic attending though.

Although paramedic skills are often used, it's relatively rare for them to actually make a significant difference towards the casualty's welfare or recovery. You're better off having someone who is a competent and capable helicopter crewman on the wire rather than purely a paramedic. That way sound airmanship decisions will be made by the winchman during the rescue, much to the relief of the remainder of the crew who are reliant upon him coming up with the goods.

You can't go around saying things like that Vie - how will the brave new SAR world reconcile the cheaply available paramedic with a few helicopter hours vs a competent helicopter crewmember who can make sensible medical decisions?

I though that the cheap paramedic route had been proven not to work since so many hours were required to make them competent to deliver their skills on mountainsides, heaving decks, in the water etc etc etc - or is it all about ticking DfT boxes for services rendered?

Do you think maybe 'military wincing' is something that happens every time Crab posts?

Bit like jobs requiring a 360 radar.

If reduced spatial awareness when IMC at 200' over the sea in a busy shipping lane is your thing, then a radar that only covers one third of the circle is ideal.

You're still not 'on-message' Vie - new and shiny helicopters are the answer to everything, just because they are new, shiny and fast - whether they actually bring any better capability than (or even as good as) those they replace or not

Try not to mention 360 radar, downwash or poor rearcrew pay again

Or aircraft the size of a bus, or captain's hearing, or run dry, or the customer's skill set?


I really need to get into this. Next week I am supposed to stay on-message for a whole four days. Life is tough.

Are Dev A recruiting for BHL

Somethings going on. The job ads on the Bristow site are extended for another month.

I can see the scenario -

For a finders Fee Dev A recruit Paramedics and give them a very basic Rescue Swimmer Course to use them on global contracts until they have the DfT/UKSAR 50hrs minimum at which time they are passed over to Bristow to fill Winchman Slots. Lets face it top end Paramedic Pay in the NHS is C£27k (outside London) so the chance of flying for a little bit more money and still being able to work Bank rates for the NHS on days off is attractive.

I said this on another thread but it's worth repeating.


The winchmen training to be paramedics or paramedics training to be winchmen question is an old chestnut that is visited time and again on PPRuNe. If they are considering the latter, the simple question that Bristow need to ask themselves is are they prepared to conduct SAR operations with one member of the crew who has not been selected primarily for his aircrew qualities and secondarily for his ability to perform as SAR rearcrew?


What qualities are we talking about? His speed of thought, his ability to see the big picture, his understanding of the aircraft's safety parameters, his reaction time, his awareness of what the rest of the crew require of him, his vigilance, his athleticism, his resilience, his determination, his ability to think on his feet, his coordination, his ability to prioritise, his adaptability, his ability to offload the pilots and fulfil duties on their behalf (eg navigation), the speed of his comprehension, his performance under pressure, his ability to assimilate multiple inputs without reaching saturation point. The list is long and I've only just touched upon it.


Bristow may well have method of selecting ambulance paramedics who have those qualities and good luck to them if they do. However, these individuals are unlikely to have any/much flying time behind them. That will lead to a lengthy and frustrating training process if Bristow are to ensure that there is no reduction in the quality of SAR service provided in the UK when they take over. As I recall, the 'no reduction in quality' principle is fundamental to the civilianisation of UK Search and Rescue.

O and W
I would think that £42K is a lot more than £27K (Crabs figures)