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Pofman - was that the Optica trial that I remember being crashed (with a fatality sadly) in Hampshire in the 80s?

I was in London at the weekend - not part of the trade union demo - a fixed wing would have been cock-all use, as you say, monitoring something like that.

It very much seems that accountants are determining operational capability as far as police ops are concerned.

Pofman

Crab,
The Optica was one type tried but they used various F/Wings. The problem was largely that most operations, when on site, are slow speed and in poor vis conditions the a/c operates very close to the stall. Hampshire were particularly keen to use F/W but even they ran into weather, slow speed problems. Cheaper yes but operationally less effective even with twins.
As you observed in London they would have been little use. In Brixton the rioters knocked out all the streetlights and ran amok. We turned up with the Nightsun and control of the streets was rapidly re-established. The helicopter probably paid for itself that evening alone. I just don't see the MET letting go of their EC145s.

PANews

A quick Google check shows the price of a P68 as being around Euros 670,000 each but to that you need add zillions for the required role fit, an MX-10 downlink, radio fit etc is no cheaper just because it is on a f/w.

The prices being quoted before are probably the cost of the Airborne Technologies trial lease. As a trial it does not matter what fuel is used. An MX-10 costs a tad more than £145,000!

If they do not go for a turbine f/w they may find cost even more and may depend on airport fuel farms and bowsers.

Just been to the new unit at Hurn and they are sub 24 hour as is the airfield. The plan is that the 24 hour NPAS helicopters can land when it is all closed up and serve themselves from the fuel at the unit...... that means that the f/w fleet will not be as flexible and may not be seen as 24/7 as needing to be able to get to fuel.

SilsoeSid

So, if we say that an all in fixed wing unit will cost £2 million, one immediate way of saving a shed full of money would be to reduce the number of ac purchased.

Wow, you can see the opening slide at the PCC & CC conference already;
'Having purchased (n) fixed wing assets, PNAS has already realised savings to the amount of £6 million.'

Bit like Ryanair and their 'always on time' timings

SilsoeSid

I hear that the fixed wing assets will also allow rotary crews to be flown to Germany for simulator trips, as it would be cheaper than paying private travel claims to Gloucester

Every cloud ...

SilsoeSid

Camper van in a lay-by! That would also save a bit of dosh in the hotel suite budget, if you know what I mean

Fly_For_Fun

Has the Met signed up for, and joined, NPAS yet?

SilsoeSid

Rumour has it that the latest TFO selection candidates have been informed of the decisions. I wonder how that will affect next years report, especially after this years report told us;



Oh! Apparently, according to the grapevine, no affect whatsoever


On the same page of the report;

But only if they manage to get through the interview


I trust that the interview panel was made up of sufficient 'rank' and any conflicts of interest were declared

SilsoeSid

Recently retired TFO training officers not good enough to pass the PNAS TFO selection process, whatever next ..... Recently qualified TFO's failing line checks?

Nail The Dream

... or failing the Selection Process Flight Tests

Nail

SilsoeSid

One big question being asked, were any candidates selected for TFO training?

Fortyodd2

Cabby,
if for no other reason to give you some facts:

1. Yes, there were some female candidates who got through to the flight tests.
2. The suggested starting pay for those selected is higher than one of the current TFO Training Officers with over 16 Years in the job - go figure.
3. There was no distinction between Fixed or Rotary wing - but the Fixed Wings are at least a year away.

Like Sid, so far I have not yet heard how many were successful and know of only one that wasn't.

SilsoeSid

1. And they did exceptionally well in those flight tests, some much better than the male candidates, so the grapevine goes. That also applied to the written/aptitude tests.

2. Post 346 this thread;
Don't know where your figures are from but;

Pay Scales


3. Fixed wing is less than a year away

SilsoeSid

There's a huge difference between 'getting through to the flight tests' and 'getting through the flight tests'.

How many that got through to the flight tests, got through the flight tests, then got through to the interview, and got through the interview?

How many that got through the interview, received the email that said 'Yes'?

Filtre de fadaises

Average bobbies, may take home 40k, but it would appear PNAS overtime is unlikely to swell the TFOs pockets to that extent, since I hear the overtime budget is almost non-existent. I understand that some some shifts may have been cancelled when there aren't enough TFOs to cover?

"Don't spoil the ship for a ha'porth o' tar", springs to mind, especially if there's a pilot & expensive airframe available?

SilsoeSid

Only 3 fixed wing!

Pre Tender Information
National Police Air Service
Acquisition of Fixed Wing Aircraft and Role Equipment


All the above linked information is available online let me google that for you, click HERE

SilsoeSid

At least having the odd fixed wing will make it a bit easier getting the Christmas message across;

backtothebeat

Just popping my head above the parapet for this.
The MAXIMUM salary for a PC in England and Wales is 36519pa.
This is attainable after ten years service.

http://www.policeoracle.com/pay_and_conditions/police_pay_scales.html?no_detect=1
There is now a shift allowance paid which might add an extra thousand or so.
Deduct from that, pension contributions of 13.5% and then bare in mind that we are paid every 4 weeks not monthly and it comes out about 2000 per calendar month net of tax, ni and pension.
Just thought I'd clarify that.

backtothebeat

[quote=SilsoeSid;8733570][quote]forty;



2. Post 346 this thread;
Don't know where your figures are from but;

Pay Scales

These vacancies are for civilian posts not police officers. Thus the low pay.

Harry O

Planks x 3, with the option for 3 more in the document.