Bond ground all UK EC135s

[airsound]

Statement received this morning from Bond Air Services.

During normal operations yesterday, one of our EC135 fleet has experienced an indication defect that requires further technical investigation. Therefore as a precautionary measure we have temporarily suspended service operations whilst we undertake detailed diagnosis. We commenced investigations overnight, are continuing this morning and are in close liaison with Eurocopter regarding this investigation.

We apologise for the disruption to service and expect to provide a further update around 10.30 GMT.

Further statement at 1140

Further to our update earlier this morning we can confirm that we continue to investigate the technical fault that resulted in us temporarily suspending service operations yesterday. We are now conducting functional tests across each of our EC135 aircraft in order to gather more specific information.

Eurocopter tell me that the wording is important. This is not a grounding, they say.

airsound

[SASless]

With the latest news....a question about "Fuel Gauge Calibration Checks" arises.

Are they a part of routine maintenance procedures and done at specific intervals or just when a problem is reported by the Pilot?

Are the Fuel Cells ever opened and the interiors inspected during major Inspections?

[toptobottom]

I think you'll find that Bond grounded its 135s some time ago, following concerns with mis-reading fuel gauges, as I tried to indicate here

[Digital flight deck]

Have any other EC135 operations suspended services?

[aeromys]

Originally Posted by toptobottom

I think you'll find that Bond grounded its 135s some time ago, following concerns with mis-reading fuel gauges, as I tried to indicate here

No, they continued flying up until an incident yesterday evening.

[flap15]

BBC have just announced that Bond have found a fault and grounded all their EC135 helicopters.

[fatmanmedia]

BBC News - Glasgow crash helicopters grounded by Bond Air Services

[toptobottom]

Aeromys

No, they continued flying up until an incident yesterday evening.

Are you sure they were all flying until yesterday evening?!

[aeromys]

Originally Posted by toptobottom

Aeromys

Are you sure they were all flying until yesterday evening?!

Are you saying Bond have not operated any 135s' since the Glasgow crash ? On what date are you saying Bond grounded their 135 fleet ?

[CJ Romeo]

Flying/ Not Flying

Definitely they were still flying a Police EC135 in Glasgow last night.

From whats on here, they werent pulled till late last night.

[fenland787]

According to the Beeb anyway:

BBC News - Glasgow crash helicopters grounded by Bond Air Services

[Digital flight deck]

Sky news seems to think that Bond operate all police and air ambulance EC135s. As I understand it NPAS have not grounded their EC135s serviced by ECUK. Unless anyone knows to the contrary?

[silverelise]

BBC News are reporting that NPAS have issued an instruction to operate with increased minimum fuel level.

[Digital flight deck]

Differing levels of risk averseness.

[SilsoeSid]

Did you say all UK 135's?

[Fortyodd2]

Just in case anybody is interested in facts;
NPAS instruction as at 23:04, 11 Dec is to operate with an increased MLA of 100Kgs in the Main Tank until further notice.

[SilsoeSid]

So why haven't Bond said the same?

[Richard J.]

Bond ground all their UK EC135s

Did you say all UK 135's?

All of Bond's EC135s, according to the BBC report. (No press release on Bond's website yet.)

"Bond Air Services suspended flights on all 22 of its EC 135s after a fault was found on the North West Air Ambulance. ... Eurocopter said the decision taken by Bond did not apply to the rest of the Eurocopter fleet in the UK - a total of 57 aircraft."

[fenland787]

I could have worded it better perhaps but yes, according to the Beeb, Bond have grounded all their EC135s

Bond Air Services suspended flights on all 22 of its EC 135s

[Pittsextra]

Is this related to the Glasgow accident, in so far that there might have been increased sensitivities/checks after this event, or just a co-incident in terms of timing? Or we don't know yet...?