Having a helicopter that does both roles is stupid, because if you load it it with all the equipment for both roles, it would be way to heavy to get of the ground, therefore you have to make a lot of compromises on equipment, which will make the operations more diffcult and more dangerous. EMS and police is quite different in their profiles of flying, training and so on. In the end the operation would probably even more expensive with one helicopter for both roles, because you need a bigger one and more training and a form of backup and, and, and....

If there is one region in GB that needs that helicopter badly, it is probably NI.
:ugh:

In January, as a further indication of the EC135’s multi-role capability and popularity, the Czech Police Aviation Department in Prague took delivery of the first of eight it ordered. Half of the eight helicopters will be used in the Czech Republic’s Integrated Rescue System (emergency medical service, police, fire fighting, mountain rescue and search and rescue); three will be configured for police missions such as surveillance, anti-terrorist and crime fighting; and the last will be reserved for “flexible response, universal-mission”

So by the looks of it - police+medical can be combined !!

Skyhigh-Ulster,

The PSNI helicopter has carried out a few casualty evacuations over the last few years, and while this it is not its primary role they can exercise discretion for the purpose of saving life.
I understand that the PSNI are considering a second larger helicopter for use in the future but this will again undoubtedly be for a Police role, and as such they will no doubt look at all options, and pick the one best suited to the role it has to fulfill, i.e. Police Air Support.

On a separate note, I also heard recently that the NI based charity which are fundrasing for an NI air ambulance, and have been for several years, hope to have the required funds to get the project up and running next year. I wish them the best of luck with it.

BC

SH, look at whats said...Integrated Rescue system so a command and control platform probably, then 3 specifically in the POLICE Role.

Just accept that a lot of people have spent a lot of time deciding how and what to buy for the Province, hopefully when they buy anything else they'll remember to send you your invite...

Why does a police force only buy a helicopter that is good for police work and NOT for HEMS, SAR, fire-fighting, flying politicians and businessman or anything else?

That'll be because it is a police force, and if it bought a helicopter to do all those other things (which would be MUCH more expensive and at the same time less useful as a police helicopter) it would legitimately be criticised for wasting taxpayers' money.

You seem to want it both ways SH. It can't be too expensive but not expensive enough.

How about the different motor vehicles used by the Emergency Services: Traffic cars, pandas, thug buses (TSG carriers), dog vans, fire engines, control vehicles, ambulances, paramedic cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Should they be replaced by a bus that can do everything, but nothing well? If you go to a police/fire/ambulance station you will see most of them spending most of the time parked up one place or another. Especially these days, it is too expensive for them just to drive around. They get saved up for when they are really useful. Notice any parallels?

Skyhigh

You are reverberating the same stuff again and again but one small question springs to mind, namely what does PSNI actually stand for??

Because in the remaining 4 hours of that day it isn't!

I don't know the real figures, but lets say the force has 1200hrs pa.
1200 / 4 = 300 days

65 days down for schedules servicing, unscheduled servicing, weather etc seems fair.

A flying rate of 4hrs a day doesn't seem to bad!

If the annual hours were increased, it would cost more....simple.
What do you want?

Skyhigh-Ulster,

This is your seventh thread on the subject of PSNI costs :hmm:

You have been offered substantial advice, nearly always excellent and useful, yet you willfully refuse to accept it when it fails to meet your agenda.

Enough is enough: you have been told this more than once, yet the message hasn't sunk in. Go away and annoy someone else :*