UK Air Ambulances having it off???

[helimutt]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Let's not forget that some AA's in the UK make their pilots pay (or the pilots offer free working days) in exchange for LPC/OPCs, some (eg London) expect pilots to self-fund type ratings for just a summer of work.

Should contractors who work pretty much full time for a single AA service be expected to 'donate' two days work for renewal of an OPC/PC when they are a much needed part of the team? Asking for a friend.

[Northernstar]

That wouldn't happen to be the same charity or organisation who recently gave a free type rating to a charity exec who then resigned and now flies as a contractor for them would it? That won't have required 2 days in return I bet.

[hargreaves99]

Exactly, all jobs for the boys.

[206 jock]

Rather than putting up a series of 'I know something, I'm not saying what but it's TERRIBLE, trust me' posts on a rumour network, here's a useful link for you all.

https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity

Or, stop moaning. It's boring.

[hargreaves99]

Complaining about a 'charity' that forces pilots to pay for their own renewals/ratings isn't going to get you very far.

[P1tchlink]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Complaining about a 'charity' that forces pilots to pay for their own renewals/ratings isn't going to get you very far.

Then vote with your feet. If they can’t get the contractors on those terms they will have to change the terms. There aren’t many reputable operators doing this anymore, it phased out long ago. We are the problem if we continue to accept it, but similarly, you can expect the operator to want to bond by some means if you don’t want to ‘pay it off’, as they can’t train a contractor on no guarantee of recouping that investment.

[206 jock]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Complaining about a 'charity' that forces pilots to pay for their own renewals/ratings isn't going to get you very far.

Is that a pilot who applied for and was (presumably) succesful in applying for a role? If they don't like the deal, find another job - how exactly are they 'forced' to do anything? Market forces will dictate the way forward.

It's their choice. I'm sure there are plenty of AA charities or other industries that are more to their liking. Complaining about one aspect of their employment terms is pointless.

[HEMS chap]

Your right market forces will dictate that and many of these charities or companies that employ them are finding out the more you ask of their pilots, medical crews in qualifications vs conditions of employment and effective management are not equating to keeping good staff members on board.

[Northernstar]

If you have a multi IR there are plenty of jobs offshore with better roster and pay. The migration east continues unabated. Even up here in ABZ you can now get 7 on 7 off without trying too hard. No more night shifts either. Or magically mysteriously switching from multi crew to single pilot while airborne. Still cannot see how that is anything but illegal.

[P1tchlink]

Originally Posted by Northernstar

Or magically mysteriously switching from multi crew to single pilot while airborne. Still cannot see how that is anything but illegal.

Who does that? I don’t think that’s at all commonplace. I’ve heard of people conducting a whole sector SP if they hold the right privileges, if for example a co-pilot doesn’t hold an IR, the weather has closed in, and the commander has briefed that they will fly an IFR recovery leg SP, using their SP rating/OPC etc provided they hold SP recencies for IFR. I’ve not heard of people changing in flight. Almost all co-pilots have IRs, what’s to be gained?

[Northernstar]

At least 1 former North Sea pilot was mandated to be given a VFR only type rating for a multi crew IFR operation on that exact premise when contracting. Not helped by being charged for his type renewal no doubt, at over double the normal rate for the airframe. Is a charity allowed to overcharge temporary staff for the privilege to work for them?

[hargreaves99]

Is a charity allowed to overcharge temporary staff for the privilege to work for them?

Yes, and people are queuing up to do it, pilots are their own worst enemy. I guess people are desperate to either get out of Aberdeen, sick of commuting up there, or desperate to be a HEMS "hero"

[P1tchlink]

Originally Posted by Northernstar

At least 1 former North Sea pilot was mandated to be given a VFR only type rating for a multi crew IFR operation on that exact premise when contracting. Not helped by being charged for his type renewal no doubt, at over double the normal rate for the airframe. Is a charity allowed to overcharge temporary staff for the privilege to work for them?

Then quite legitimate to fly a flight SP IFR if the organisation have approval for SP operations, and the pilots SP qualified and recent. It makes sense if they are a 99% VFR operation (which I believe they are reading between the lines who you refer to) not to spend the extra money on a qualification for a pilot which they won’t use. Also, if it is who I think - only 50% of their aircraft are permitted to be flown MP IFR, with the other 50% SP IFR only due to their equipment installation.

[AeroAmigo]

Great thread to ask a HEMS-related question, does anyone know what airframe MAGPAS is operating at the moment? Their usual G-MGPS hasn't operated from their base since the 31st of Jan and is currently covering G-PICU in Dorset after not flying under a HEMS callsign for all of Feb & March.

[chopper2004]

Originally Posted by AeroAmigo

Great thread to ask a HEMS-related question, does anyone know what airframe MAGPAS is operating at the moment? Their usual G-MGPS hasn't operated from their base since the 31st of Jan and is currently covering G-PICU in Dorset after not flying under a HEMS callsign for all of Feb & March.

I have seen G-MGPS snce then, defo saw it lat month overflying here in Cambridge and defo.

Btw, you might want to check mAGPAS FB page and the post on March 10th with Molly's family visiting the base and looks like G-MGPS is in the hangar there.

cheers

[AeroAmigo]

Originally Posted by chopper2004

I have seen G-MGPS snce then, defo saw it lat month overflying here in Cambridge and defo.

Btw, you might want to check mAGPAS FB page and the post on March 10th with Molly's family visiting the base and looks like G-MGPS is in the hangar there.

cheers

Thanks for the reply, I'm only basing this off the tracking data for the aircraft you can find at https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=407734, there doesn't appear to be any movements for this airframe between these dates below, unless the aircraft is being operated with its transponder set to OFF which would be odd but not unheard of I guess.

ADSBexchange data:

31st January flew a HEMS mission under HLE66 from its Alconbury Weald base
9th February flew from MAGPAS base in Alconbury Weald to Redhill under PLC07
3rd March flew an (Assumedly) test flight/post maintenance check flight under PLC66 from and back to Redhill
April 5th flew from Redhill to Henstridge and has been covering G-PICU as HLE10 since,

This data pulled from FlightRadar24 suggests the same, though there is additional data for the 28th Feb:

06 Apr 2024 — — HLE10 0:22 — — —
05 Apr 2024 Redhill (KRH) — PLC4 0:52 10:35 10:35 —
28 Feb 2024 Redhill (KRH) Redhill (KRH) PLC66 1:15 11:15 12:56 15:11
28 Feb 2024 Redhill (KRH) Redhill (KRH) PLC66 1:51 10:57 09:56 12:48
09 Feb 2024 — Redhill (KRH) PLC7 0:42 — — 15:17
31 Jan 2024 Wittering (QKX) Huntingdon (AYH) HLE66 0:11 13:18 13:02 14:13

The social post on Mother's Day has thrown me as you're correct, an aircraft is present but the only data available suggests the aircraft is in Redhill at that time and hasn't been back to the MAGPAS base since 9th Feb. Potentially an old archive photo? Other than that post, the timelines for the various fundraising socials only appear to show their Critical Care Cars. In the context of the discussions above it'd be interesting to know whether the base has been without an airframe since the start of February or whether another aircraft is covering. I have checked all the usual SAS (Now Gamma) spare frames none of which are showing as operating as HLE66 but I'd be more than happy to be pointed in the right direction. Bit of a strange one either way!

[FloaterNorthWest]

Why not contact the charity and ask them?

[AeroAmigo]

Originally Posted by FloaterNorthWest

Why not contact the charity and ask them?

I was thinking this but at the same time I don’t want to clog their inbox and waste their time with random queries. This forum is great to speak to people in the know and people can choose to read the thread and reply at their own will so i don’t carry a guilty conscience discussing it here in that sense haha