Wiltshire Air Ambulance more woes.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Welsh Wales
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wiltshire Air Ambulance more woes.
Heli-charter, the AOC holder and maintenance provider for Wiltshire Air Ambulance have ceased trading as of today.
This of course means that the AOC for Wiltshire Air Ambulance has disappeared and that they are now no longer able to operate until that's resolved. On top of that there has recently been ANOTHER very similar tail rotor incident on their Bell 429, G-WLTS. An additional issue now of course is that there are no engineers available to look into it!
Bell seem to be quite comfortable in denying that there's a problem with the 429's TR and the AAIB were not (but now, given a second occurence, might be) interested in looking into it.
The shortcomings at Heli-Charter have been visible for all to see over the latter part of last year - even from the sidelines it's clear that the executive management at WAA have been caught napping. A trawl through these pages reveals a less than favourable opinion of the WAA management and I guess the mess they're now in will serve to galvanise it.
Can't help but feel sorry for all those living through it.
Blyyddyn Newydd Dda!
This of course means that the AOC for Wiltshire Air Ambulance has disappeared and that they are now no longer able to operate until that's resolved. On top of that there has recently been ANOTHER very similar tail rotor incident on their Bell 429, G-WLTS. An additional issue now of course is that there are no engineers available to look into it!
Bell seem to be quite comfortable in denying that there's a problem with the 429's TR and the AAIB were not (but now, given a second occurence, might be) interested in looking into it.
The shortcomings at Heli-Charter have been visible for all to see over the latter part of last year - even from the sidelines it's clear that the executive management at WAA have been caught napping. A trawl through these pages reveals a less than favourable opinion of the WAA management and I guess the mess they're now in will serve to galvanise it.
Can't help but feel sorry for all those living through it.
Blyyddyn Newydd Dda!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
6 Posts
We looked at the 429 when they did the UK sales 'tour'. It looked like a great machine to operate. I don't know any details of the WAA hierarchy and have no links, but surely they could never have seen the TR problems coming??????
When they started up with Heli-Charter, many of us thought it was a gutsy move to go with a smaller company and it was widely commented on here on Pprune. But companies have to start thinking bigger somewhere/sometime? They took a punt and it didnt work, but they were not the first OR last to try that. Lets just hope that they dont lose too much money and move on successfully, fingers crossed
When they started up with Heli-Charter, many of us thought it was a gutsy move to go with a smaller company and it was widely commented on here on Pprune. But companies have to start thinking bigger somewhere/sometime? They took a punt and it didnt work, but they were not the first OR last to try that. Lets just hope that they dont lose too much money and move on successfully, fingers crossed
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Omnipresent
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They were warned and didn't listen. The CAA weren't happy about granting Heli Charter's AOC the required permissions, in fact withdrew it on occasion. A company who let everyone down running the major golf event at Sandwich, but the biggest crook in the house bailed months ago taking the Bell dealership with him. Sadly he's still sliming his way round in a 429/505 trying to blag it like he did on a PPL doing 'experience' flights for so many years.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Devon
Age: 69
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They were warned and didn't listen. The CAA weren't happy about granting Heli Charter's AOC the required permissions, in fact withdrew it on occasion. A company who let everyone down running the major golf event at Sandwich, but the biggest crook in the house bailed months ago taking the Bell dealership with him. Sadly he's still sliming his way round in a 429/505 trying to blag it like he did on a PPL doing 'experience' flights for so many years.
Nothing mentioned on Wiltshire Air Ambulance twitter page about the AOC or Heli Charter in the posts made today. https://twitter.com/WiltsAirAmbu
The website for Heli Charter appears to have been closed. Why did they lose their AOC?
The charities webpage reveals the "leadership team" which shows which director was responsible for dealing Heli Charter and Bell.
https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/meet-the-team/
Last edited by Cabby; 3rd Jan 2019 at 22:34. Reason: Leadership team member responsible for overseeing Heli Charter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Welsh Wales
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WAA have already begun the process of writing their own AOC and a social media press report (quoting a WAA spokesperson) suggests that it's granting "is iminent". I'm also told that they have already appointed a new maintenance organisation.
I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!
I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!
WAA have already begun the process of writing their own AOC and a social media press report (quoting a WAA spokesperson) suggests that it's granting "is iminent". I'm also told that they have already appointed a new maintenance organisation.
I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!
I guess we'll have to wait and see how iminent the AOC is - and indeed who the accountable manager will be because I'd wager that the current Aviation Director didn't get too much sleep last night!
Let’s hope for better ‘attention to detail’ with their AOC editing.......
On a serious note - best wishes to the girls and guys at the “coalface” - here’s to a speedy and safe recovery.
Difficult to believe there are still amateurs running enterprises like this after the air ambulance world has been operating for decades.
I thought the riff raff had been weeded out but it seems not.
I was going to say that the world of charities attracts a fair share of underqualified and unprofessional people anyway.............but then NPAS popped into my mind!
Hopefully the experts will now take charge and someone like Bond et al, will sort it out.
Good luck to the new owners, they are going to need it.
I thought the riff raff had been weeded out but it seems not.
I was going to say that the world of charities attracts a fair share of underqualified and unprofessional people anyway.............but then NPAS popped into my mind!
Hopefully the experts will now take charge and someone like Bond et al, will sort it out.
Good luck to the new owners, they are going to need it.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
In view of no AOC, presumably Wiltshire has no dedicated air ambulance cover at the moment?
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Devon
Age: 69
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are people who will write the paperwork for a fee, but the CAA will be looking at who maintains and runs the operation.
The charity may need to look for a qualified accountable manager.
https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/...rtificate_(AOC) follow the initial link onto AOC.
More details. https://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2129.pdf
Last edited by Cabby; 4th Jan 2019 at 13:52. Reason: pdf
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Cabby, Thanks for the input, I'm well aware of the rules regarding the acqusition of an AOC.
I was curious to know if there was any other air cover in the meantime.
I was curious to know if there was any other air cover in the meantime.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Just south of the Keevil gap.
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This was taken locally, back on August 27 2015.
Last edited by Cpt_Pugwash; 4th Jan 2019 at 23:17. Reason: Add pic.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: HLS map - http://goo.gl/maps/3ymt
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Between Great Western (Filton), TVAA (Benson), Dorset & Somerset (Henstridge) and Midlands (Strensham) most corners of their patch should remain relatively well covered by air until they find a solution. 3 of those attended a mutual aid job in Wiltshire’s patch simultaneously not long back when their aircraft was down...
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The ambulance service which covers Wiltshire (South Western Ambulance Service) has a HEMS desk dispatching all the aircraft. They are frequently sent across the counties depending upon availability and skill mix of crew - you need a doctor to deliver anaesthesia, for instance. I'm sure it'll be well covered both by the Wiltshire AA crew on a vehicle and others by air, predominantly GWAAC and DSAA.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Just south of the Keevil gap.
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As Chris notes above, cover has been restored, although this report suggests the deal with SAS is an existing contingency arrangement rather than a new deal. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but it will be nice to see the 902 back in West Wilts.