Was about to say?! Has it died its death AGAIN?!

10th January for announcement of the big winner...

Are there any details of the bids? Or is this being kept tight lipped?

My best bet for the winner is the British Military. :ok:

I know nothing...but...I would imagine it is extremely sensitive information that is being kept very closely guarded. Unlikely anything is going to be heard until the announcement proper and that's only 9 weeks away. You don't have long to wait.

Flounder - thank you.

Are they bidding? If so what would the TUPE situation be? Certainly their maintenance is already civilianised.

Still no news?
 

Is anybody aware of a new plan?

Any chance the people organising all of this could get involved in helping us form the new (UK) national police air service............that way we could just carry on for another few years without having to change anything!

One of NPAS' next targets is to seek a single central paramilitary service of public helicopters combining SAR, police, EMS and fire support.

SM... I am rather amused that you think the new NPAS will have such authority! While much better alignment and coordination between the various services you mention is on the cards over the next few years.. I don't think the NPAS is in a position to direct such events. RUSI is publishing it's report next week on it's UK "blue light" aviation studies... So worth a read by all interested parties and individuals. Its not government policy yet, of course, but I think it's going to have some influence on it in due course.

About a week too late then...oh dear!

Public Service Aviation
 

A couple of weeks back I had the pleasure of teaching a couple of guys from 'La Compania Aeronautica Italienne' (apologies if I got that wrong in any way). This organisation is apparently tasked with providing aviation resources for 'disasters' of any kind within Italy. It seems that Italy has the normal SAR outfits provided by Navy (includes CG) and Air Force (organised by the Air Force) but also has this additional layer called CAI. They take control of any natural (or other) disaster and have the power to use their own (limited) resources but also have the power to co-opt aviation resources from the military and also from any commercial source that is appropriate. Now that has the sound of a well organised public service aviation unit. Would that work in the UK rather than have the constant turf wars between the various elements that seek primacy in any event that requires support from aviation resources in the Navy, Coast Guard, Air force, 43 police forces and 23 HEMS units?

G.

What you driving at then ToD?:confused:

Geoffers; with service level agreements now mostly agreed, maturing air desks in most regional control rooms and 'airwaves' comms providing instant flexibility, the UK charity hems world is moving out of its parochial 'turf wars' age into a responsive era of regional support.

For example the East Midlands Ambulance Service and surrounding Ambulance Services can call upon local air ambulances funded by the people of many different nearby counties, to fly to incidents anywhere in the entire area those Services cover. In a large scale incident anywhere in the Midlands, up to 7 HEMS helicopters could be on scene within 30 minutes, if required. All coordinated temporarily from the airdesk of the nearest controlling Ambulance Service.

Rumour buzzing is that an announcement will be made tomorrow re: SARH!

I too would agree. I believe we will hear something official during Monday.

One pedantic but important thing though... SAR-H died during January 2011. Whatever comes next will not be called that, so let's just try and avoid using this term for the future programme(s) ...Please?:)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back over the water.....................SAR-H II.....dada,,,,,,,dada........dadadadadada etc

Search and Rescue Helicopters - News - Department for Transport

Well there it is. In service by 2016, awarded early 2013. Boulmer and Portland to go...

Interim Contract
 

That's very little time between new contract selection (early 2013) and expiration of the present 'interim contract' (June 2013). Is there provision to extend the current CHC SAR S-92's & 139's on-contract beyond June 2013?

Yes GAP-SAR, currently being scrutinised by DfT for award in Jan 2012 for 5-6 years, so covers any overlap required.