TLC Helilift
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: manchester
TLC Helilift
I’m trying to communicate with TLC on a technical matter. The phone hasn’t been answered for 2 days nor emails returned- anyone know anything please or perhaps have a direct contact for Tony?
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 122
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From: manchester
To the person who volunteered assistance in a private message,
Thanks, I’ve tried to reply to you but your Inbox is full, the system says you need to delete some messages to allow mine in.
Thanks, I’ve tried to reply to you but your Inbox is full, the system says you need to delete some messages to allow mine in.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 122
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From: manchester
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
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From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
TLC have been struggling for a long time. The product has been available for two decades now and was set at a keen price point that competitors did not care to match. Unfortunately the machines were well made, robust and had a tendency to be forgiving of maintenance . They also only catered for skid equipped machines – the design for wheeled helicopters and fixed wing just never made it to market. In their heyday, the 1990s, skids were in but increasingly wheeled helicopters have grabbed a significant hold on the market.
All of the skid equipped emergency services helicopter operators and MROs in the UK have their robust and long living Heli-Lifts - and probably a spare in store.
Even TLC had its own cache of spare Heli-Lifts, they were ones that NPAS had no further call for as they massively downsized their bases. I am told that they were there at no charge and, if true, that was a commercial mistake. Every little helps.
So NPAS may have to find some space in a hangar near Doncaster....
A great pity, Tony was one of the best and its sad it came to this.
All of the skid equipped emergency services helicopter operators and MROs in the UK have their robust and long living Heli-Lifts - and probably a spare in store.
Even TLC had its own cache of spare Heli-Lifts, they were ones that NPAS had no further call for as they massively downsized their bases. I am told that they were there at no charge and, if true, that was a commercial mistake. Every little helps.
So NPAS may have to find some space in a hangar near Doncaster....
A great pity, Tony was one of the best and its sad it came to this.
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Bristol
That is really sad. TLC were undoubtedly the very best Heli - lifters and spotters that ever existed. Tony Hancock was inspirational as the designer. I am far too old and wrinkly now to have any influence on the future, but I doff my cap my cap to a great engineer and and a great company!
I guess that it was the trend towards downsizing in the Police market, combined with the increased number of Helicopters using retractable U/Cs rather than Skids.
TF
I guess that it was the trend towards downsizing in the Police market, combined with the increased number of Helicopters using retractable U/Cs rather than Skids.
TF
Last edited by tigerfish; 10th October 2020 at 13:48.
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,605
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From: UK
That is indeed very sad news, their kit is indeed fab and built strongly. Also if you needed it modified so that your skidded helicopter would fit on it due to special kit fitted to it they did do that and it worked very well. Great loss to the industry, IMHO.
Joined: Dec 2021
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From: Paderborn
Support
Hi, our Helilift broke down with CRC error and blown 100A fuse. I tried to contact TLC but no email-response nor any phone contact. Did any get in touch with them since the last post?
Thanks,
Thomas
B47G3B1
Thanks,
Thomas
B47G3B1
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: Outer Mongolia
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 6
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From: Outer Mongolia