East Anglian Air Ambulance temporarily grounded/Longmint status
 

From this morning's EDP

East Anglian Air Ambulance temporarily grounded - News - Eastern Daily Press

What is happening at Sterling, seems to have gone downhill in recent years.:(

static

Longmint??

Latest news is that [as pre-planned] Bond have supplied two early model BO105s so they are up and running again.

EAAA are sending out a 'proper' press release tomorrow.

Everyone that knew GH, said it was a sad day when he left, I can only say how right they were.

I also hear the Police contract is on its way elsewhere, can't have much left on the books now.

One version
 

19/2/11 Statement: EAAA's aircraft supplier

Clare Philips, 19 February 2011

The East Anglian Air Ambulance has activated a contingency plan due to operational issues with the current supplier of its aircraft, Sterling Aviation. Sterling is temporarily unable to provide the EAAA with an air ambulance service, so, as an interim measure the charity will continue to operate using alternative aircraft from a different supplier, Bond Air Services.

The charity has taken this step to ensure the continuation of the service provided by both Anglia One and Anglia Two (based in Norwich and Cambridge Airport respectively) but will involve the EAAA using different aircraft. This is because of a procedural issue and, in the short term, the helicopters will not be EAAA branded.

The alternative aircraft are expected to be fully operational from Sunday 20th February and will continue to transport the same highly trained doctors and paramedics across the four counties in the same way as Anglia One and Anglia Two.

The EAAA’s partners at Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) and the East of England NHS Ambulance Trust are fully aware and supportive of move it’s made to ensure the continuity of its service.

Deputy Chief Executive of the EAAA Steve Whitby said: “Although the current situation with Sterling Aviation is extremely regrettable we have quickly activated our contingency plan to ensure a smooth handover to a new contractor as an interim measure. Of course, our main concern is that the charity continues to provide a first class air ambulance service to the people of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. Thanks to a strong contingency plan and excellent team work within EAAA and our partners we will achieve this. The only change the people of East Anglia will notice is the colour of our helicopters – which will be red and not EAAA branded. We will be fully operational from both EAAA bases from Sunday 20th February. This would have been achieved sooner but for adverse weather conditions which stopped all air ambulance activity in East Anglia today.”

Anyone know why the pulled the AOC?

People have left so approved post are not filled nothing dubious....

i actually think that is pretty dubious!

A replacement aircraft arrived at Norwich about an hour ago.
B105 / G-BUXS.

If approved post-holders are leaving, with no-one to replace them, this smacks of pppp (P... Poor Planning+Proceedures)...... or are they leaving the sinking ship?

Or were they pushed?

This is not the first instance of unrest in this group.:sad:

Not according to the CAA, they haven't....

From the NHS Ambulance Trust web-site
 

The NHS Ambulance Trust has praised the ‘remarkable speed’ in which the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) solved a potentially difficult air operations issue this weekend.
Late on Friday afternoon the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) temporarily suspended the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of Norwich-based firm Sterling Aviation due to procedural issues. This meant the two yellow helicopters Anglia One (based at Norwich Airport) and Anglia Two (based at Cambridge Airport) were grounded. However, the charity quickly activated their contingency plan and brought in aircraft supplied by an alternative operator, Bond Air Services

CAA
 

So does anyone actually know what happended? Is seems pretty serious to me that the regulator can pull the plug on an air amb op with zero notice and not a word? :confused:

Procedure?
 

Who's the Form 4 QM for the Operation (and for its engineering support)? - VFR

Please note my last post. The CAA have _not_ pulled the AOC as of lunchtime today, Monday.

I would provide you a link, but the moderator would remove it.

can't sterling voluntarily 'give up' their AOC?

Yes, just like AgustaWestland handed back the Westland 30 type certificate so they did not need to support the fleet. But handing back an approval certificate is like saying they don't need it any more.. so voluntarily giving it up may mean there's a risk that any attempt to reinstate would be considered a new application.

But then I suppose Longmint group has other AOCs....

Yes, that makes sense. Not sure how this relates to the air ambulance though. I'm guessing they'll be some kind of tender process.

helihub, if you can supply a link that proves Sterling still has got an AOC, what possible reason would the moderator have for removing it?

Apologies if I'm being a bit thick.:confused:

I think he means to his own site.... self advertising is a bit frowned on..... but put a .com after his name and you are there!

Basically he asked the question and a named head at CAA made the statement. No documents.

CAA have not shut them down, it looks as if the sudden absence of a key member of staff with CAA accreditation did the deed.

Possibly the demise of Sterling Helicopters?

All I know is that all of this never would have happened when GH was still there, even though he's no longer involved he'll be very upset that this has happened.

Personally, now that Bond have their toe in the door I think its the thin end of the wedge, especially as they have an established base, complete with engineers at NWI.

cladosporangium

PA News is right - I would not post a link to my own website on here, but I am happy to contribute what I know.

The part M post holder has left ergo no Part M no flying....
It can happen to anyone.

More confused
 

Doesn't GH now work for EAAA? And is this at all related to EAAA sacking their chief exec last year? Or is this chaos simply within the operator. Slick contngency tho - so obviously someone was on the ball!:ok:

latest news:

Business as usual for Norfolk?s air ambulance - News - Eastern Daily Press

Hope Sterling get back up and running soon:ok:

The CAA suspended Sterling's AOC this morning

The EDP report says the replacement Bo105's are "cost neutral"

Does this mean that the costs, because there must be extra cost, are then passed back to Sterling?

A key person left on Friday,and the CAA suspend the AOC today, Tuesday.
Does that mean that Sterling voluntarily suspended operations before?

Just trying to understand the process.

If Sterling no longer has an AOC, does this mean all operations cease until they sort out what problems they are having, and then have to reapply for a new AOC? What are the time frames for all this? I suppose the vulchers will be tendering for the contracts that are not being fulfilled as we speak.

This is indeed a very sad day for Sterling and their staff if things are not sorted out pronto.

C.A.M.
 

Yes, they cannot fly anything which the AOC covers "for hire and reward". I don't think they would need to reapply from scratch, just prove to the CAA that they have all the required named people in the required roles and have a long-term view on life. Think of it from the point of view that the fare-paying public are relying on the CAA approving the company as able to fly "for hire and reward", meet all the safety requirements, etc etc.

Sterling has long been a company with lots of contracts, and there are some like EAAA and the gas lines which need to be taken up immediately and I'm sure the contracts allow for the need for substitutes. They also did a batch of filming work and live links (eg British GP). The % of work on contracts makes me think that their financial plans rely on their helicopters being out working every week of the year, and thus the cost of these assets sitting doing nothing could bring the tower of cards all tumbling down. They need to get these helicopters leased out asap or the prognosis is a downward spiral I would think.

As for time frames, it took sister company Alan Mann Helicopters over six months to get their AOC back. They do not have contract work and indeed most/all of their charter fleet are not owned by the company.

Helihub, thanks for that. It does look a bit grim for them, here's hoping all turns out well. :ok:

Fly For Fun, bit harsh refering to "vultures", as helihub says these contrcts have to be flown. AirAmbi and Police for fairly obvious reasons, less obvious is the health-and-safety gas pipeline inspections.

PEASACAKE, there already is a 30 day grace, It is usual to give a month notice to leave, I expect the CAM attracts at least this if not more.

Sounds to me to be a lack of response from the "management" at Sterling, (read Longmint) on reciept of notice. (on a similar note, I believe this is not the only notice they have been given recently...... wonder why?):suspect:

Probable reason that the Air Ambi had such a good contingency is that GH knows the "management", having had to deal with them for some time now, unfortunately.:ugh::ugh::yuk:

cladasporangium.

There is no 30 day grace period, if the nominated person leaves the employment of the AOC holder. Its an area that needs to be addressed by the CAA, as it is also causing problems elsewhere at this moment.

Sterling is owned by Longmint Ltd.


Pop that in to Google and it makes interesting reading:=

PEASACAKE - when CAM gives 30 days notice, you give CAA notice immediately - I think what cladosporangium meantby "30 day grace period".

I guess you meant that CAA would NOT allow a gap of up to 30 days with no CAM.

Finally, mention of the police contract - Norfolk Police have already given notice to Sterling to terminate wef 31 March and plan to buy hours off Suffolk.

Cladasporangium, bit harsh may be, realistic most definitely. As I said," here's hoping all turns out well. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ies/thumbs.gif"

helihub, thanks for your explaination, that is what I meant.

The point being is that the "management" must have been given at least 30 days notice that the CAM intended to leave. And it appears to have been tardy in finding a replacement, leading to the present crisis.(just the latest in a series.):{

Fly For Fun, point taken. But even vultures have a necessary place in the eco-system.:E
I'm sure you are correct, and everything will turn out well, here's hoping:ok: