NPAS 2017 news
Well, the Annual Report for 2015/16 has finally been published.
http://www.npas.police.uk/sites/npas..._2015_2016.pdf
Just a few random observations:
Wonder if that was written before or after the Compliance Manager quit?
Does one not contradict the other? Plus, £39M his pretty much what the individual Forces spent on Air Support in their year prior to joining NPAS. No mention of any savings related to the forecast savings of £15M.
How can you have a fraction of the number of staff?
Wonder why. Always thought it was a great job.
So, 14 pilots leaving in years 3 and 4. Problems ahead, I think.
A strategic asset then, rather than a quick reaction one.
Is it finished? Any FW there yet?
Wonder when the 2016/17 Report will be published?
http://www.npas.police.uk/sites/npas..._2015_2016.pdf
Just a few random observations:
The number of compliance staff has been increased to 3
The final revenue position for NPAS at the end of the 2015/16 financial year was that NPAS had delivered early savings of £2.1m in moving towards the full implementation of the new operating model.
In total NPAS spent £39m in 2015/16, up from £36m in 2014/15.
The numbers working for NPAS have remained consistent over the year, with a slight increase from 340.5 to 345.6
Of the 14 police staff leavers, seven were pilots, of these, 6 were resignations

Pilots are required by the CAA to cease flying as single pilots at the age of 60. Over the next four years 28 pilots will be at that point in their service. It had been hoped that the legislation might change but that does not look likely over the 4 year period and NPAS are commencing planning for such a large turnover of experienced pilots, although 3 leave in the first year and 4 in the second.
Doncaster Airport will base the new NPAS fixed wing fleet of aircraft.
The build process is due to start July 2016 with a completion date of 31st March 2017.
Wonder when the 2016/17 Report will be published?

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I noted that key achievements for 2015/16 have included the closure of four additional bases and that in 2014/15 the management team numbered 9 and in 2015/16 it was 13. Just observations.
Last edited by MaxR; 29th Apr 2017 at 09:06.

Avoid imitations
Is it finished? Any FW there yet?

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Well well well. No bugger rings for them anymore as they know that the job will be over before they get there. When they do turn out the job is mostly over before they get there. Pilots leaving, costs increasing. I read just this morning about the Manchester airframe going to Hull for a job!!!!!
Someone needs to end this madness sooner rather than later.
Yes it's an expensive tool, but when used properly it is very effective. Transiting 20 minutes or whatever is not effective.
We used to be able to get anywhere within our 600 square miles well within 7 minutes (to the furthest point) and we had a fixed wing to compliment it!
Sad times indeed.
Someone needs to end this madness sooner rather than later.
Yes it's an expensive tool, but when used properly it is very effective. Transiting 20 minutes or whatever is not effective.
We used to be able to get anywhere within our 600 square miles well within 7 minutes (to the furthest point) and we had a fixed wing to compliment it!
Sad times indeed.

Avoid imitations
TFC,
They will end it when they have proved (!) that police aviation doesn't work and is therefore a waste of money that can be dispensed with. Think of the savings! Think of the careers that will boost. It will have gone full circle.
Build a business case that shows that money can be saved by the use of aviation. Make it work. Then build another case to show how it can be improved while saving money. Then show that it is ineffective at any price and destroy it.
A complete farce.
They will end it when they have proved (!) that police aviation doesn't work and is therefore a waste of money that can be dispensed with. Think of the savings! Think of the careers that will boost. It will have gone full circle.
Build a business case that shows that money can be saved by the use of aviation. Make it work. Then build another case to show how it can be improved while saving money. Then show that it is ineffective at any price and destroy it.
A complete farce.

MG - Can you remind me what the actual figure was that all forces spent on air support prior to NPAS? And can you also remind me how much NPAS said they would save per year when all forces joined? Also how many air assets were available to the police services in England and Wales before NPAS and now? I genuinely can't remember, the years are catching up with me.
At the time, there were(I think) 31 helicopters, with the Met operating 3 and Thames Valley 2(from different bases). I think there are now 15 bases with 18 aircraft(the Met still have 3). I heard at a social gathering(AKA as a retirement piss-up)the other night, that there is an "eight base" model and also talk of "super bases" with more than one aircraft.
NPAS were saying that they would be saving upto £15M a year here:
Benefits of NPAS | NPAS
Well, the "upto" bit is right.

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http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/597...-sex-tape.html
What the hell next? Is NPAS just left with the dregs now- it being such a small force?
Have they replaced the safety officer yet?
Is that eejit still running it?
What the hell next? Is NPAS just left with the dregs now- it being such a small force?
Have they replaced the safety officer yet?
Is that eejit still running it?

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Listen cartefully and you may be able to hear the popping of corks and the chink of glasses coming from Up North.
After months of silence it seems that Specialist Aviation Services [PAS/MAS] hav bought up the majority of the remaining ex-NPAS MD902s including G-BXZK, G-CMBS, G-GMPX, G-SUSX, G-SYPS & G-YPOL. Change of ownership on these all went through on July 17 and 18.
And the price paid for six £1M helicoptersthat have been hanging around for months?
After months of silence it seems that Specialist Aviation Services [PAS/MAS] hav bought up the majority of the remaining ex-NPAS MD902s including G-BXZK, G-CMBS, G-GMPX, G-SUSX, G-SYPS & G-YPOL. Change of ownership on these all went through on July 17 and 18.
And the price paid for six £1M helicoptersthat have been hanging around for months?


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Make one serviceable airframe perhaps. Along with the LincsNotts, EssexHerts and KSS HEMS machines there's a whole fleet of role kitted serviceable cheap airframes potentially to sell. If only London hadn't squandered an amount they're sercretive and unwilling to disclose on an unsuitable airframe in a far off land that required much more work to make serviceable they could have got a few years out of one of these for much less or even saved for a H135 as should have been the plan.

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The Tilton Dy-nasty
This week is the Airborne Law Enforcement bash in Reno, Nevada.
There may be things to learn that might explain a little about where the Explorer neuvelle may be interms of a future but she is not likely to turn up in person [insufficient adoring crowds] so it depends on what her staff have been instructed to say.
Most likely scenario suggests that the only display machine will be an MD530 variant.
There may be things to learn that might explain a little about where the Explorer neuvelle may be interms of a future but she is not likely to turn up in person [insufficient adoring crowds] so it depends on what her staff have been instructed to say.
Most likely scenario suggests that the only display machine will be an MD530 variant.

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Nothing new from MD on the Explorer NEW but as you will have picked up elsewhere MD have ditched their armed 540F variant in favour of sticking to the existing 530 products and an as yet undefined development of the MD600 without NOTAR.
Six months on from the HAI Heli-Expo launch of this project there is nothing new. Simply a paint job. The conversion from [space marginal] HEMS to Law Enforcement is simply paint the words on the side and hang a few turrets in the 'corners' regardless of the likely C of G issues. This is probably as far away as the 540F was.... if not further.
On other matters I am still looking for the elusive NPAS fixed wing. Nothing yet registered in the UK [G-POLX?] and no signs of OE-FAH the Austrian version locally either.
Six months on from the HAI Heli-Expo launch of this project there is nothing new. Simply a paint job. The conversion from [space marginal] HEMS to Law Enforcement is simply paint the words on the side and hang a few turrets in the 'corners' regardless of the likely C of G issues. This is probably as far away as the 540F was.... if not further.
On other matters I am still looking for the elusive NPAS fixed wing. Nothing yet registered in the UK [G-POLX?] and no signs of OE-FAH the Austrian version locally either.

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FYI
Last edited by Rotate too late; 10th Sep 2017 at 12:50.

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They have to get the OK first..... and if they get the helicopters in that would be a start that never happened at other bases. Estree, East Midlands, Northolt..... and do not forget the daddy of them all.... foggy RAF Colerne....
They seem to constantly select locations with a pin and wonder why the research [that should have been done before the announcement] tends to deflect them...
I suspect the fixed wing is wish list as is 20,000 movements. It gives wiggle room and may stave off a later change in mind by EFDC.
If they get a yes they can pay for the ILS etc down the line ....... it might be cheap compared to the ongoing cost of making the 30-years old P68 fully IFR. Most police and ambulance units had to have relatively simple IL systems fitted over the years so its is just a bigger version of that.
They seem to constantly select locations with a pin and wonder why the research [that should have been done before the announcement] tends to deflect them...
I suspect the fixed wing is wish list as is 20,000 movements. It gives wiggle room and may stave off a later change in mind by EFDC.
If they get a yes they can pay for the ILS etc down the line ....... it might be cheap compared to the ongoing cost of making the 30-years old P68 fully IFR. Most police and ambulance units had to have relatively simple IL systems fitted over the years so its is just a bigger version of that.
