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The future of UK SAR, post SAR-H
SAR-H seems dead and buried (or at least in the coffin on the way to the funeral), so where now?
Carsonise the SK? Merlin: suitability/cost? Keep going as a Mil service? Civilianise the lot? Mil/Civ to share? :confused: |
There are only four certainties in life.
1. Death 2. Taxes 3. The cockpit will be awesome 4. The back end will be a bag of sh1te |
VSF, you forgot
5. Nurses |
pcd move to 3 at least
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PCB 5,nurses??what SAR unit you been too lately:rolleyes:
neither mil or civ have nurses on board,just hairy ar$ed rear crew. no offense :p |
Will the RAF SDSR today reveal or hint to anything?:confused:
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Parliament today: Main Chamber: 1430 - Deputy Prime Ministers Questions Westminster Hall: 11:00am - 12:30pmSir Alan Beith Future provision of helicopters and crew for the Search and Rescue Service 12:30pm - 1:00pmAngus Robertson UK military basing review edited to add that you can watch this live or later on Parliament Live TV » home in the Westminster Hall player |
Top gen calli. Thanks:)
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Info Only
Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom Competitive Contract Notice 1. Title: GB-YEOVIL: The Sea King Project Team has a possible requirement for the provision of Management Assistance & Support at its offices in Yeovil 2. Awarding Authority: Sea King (SK), DE&S Sea King Project Team, Agusta Westland Helicopters, Box 50, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2YB, GB 3. Contract Type: SERVICES 4. Description: Helicopters. The Sea King Project team has a possible requirement for the provision of Management Assistance and Support to carry out the following tasks at its offices in Yeovil, Somerset. Life Extension Programme technical assistance and embodiment management. Sea King Integrated Operational Support re-evaluation. Bifilar Vibration Absorber technical assistance. UOR sustainment planning. Search and Rescue Life Extension Programme study. Quality Standard Requirement: ISO 9001 5. CPV Codes: 34711500 - Helicopters. 6. NUTS Codes : UKK23 - Somerset 7. Main Site or Location of Works, Main Place of Delivery or Main Place of Performance: Somerset, 8. Reference Attributed by the Awarding Authority: SKC/0191 9. Estimated Value of Requirement: Category H1: 93K - 685K GBP 10. Deadline for Expression of Interest: 29/03/2011 11. Address to which they must be sent: Sea King (SK), DE&S Sea King Project Team, Agusta Westland Helicopters, Box 50, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2YB, GB 12. Other Information: Not Provided |
2 year extension on the cards. "Son of Interim SAR" seems to be developing nicely.
I understand the MCA will take full possession of the product in completion? Q: What is the need/point/purpose of upgrading mothballed seakings to carson/bifilar status - anyone? UK SAR doesn't fly hot or high????? Lick of paint / Iphone with integral GPS / welded undercarriage - away the lads :eek::ugh: |
Lick of paint / Iphone with integral GPS / welded undercarriage - away the lads |
Sea King LEP flown by civvy contracted aircrew managed by MCA...:oh:
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As a first time poster but long time reader I am unashamedly self-interested here, but if SW is right and there's an option for civvy aircrew to be trained into winchman/winchop role does anyone have any idea what the pay would be like or how/where/when they'd advertise?
Just wondering, cheers for any replies:cool: |
If CHC are postioning a couple of AS332L2 in the Falklands to take over an oil and gas contract from Brintel S-61s, does that mean that there is a ready civil option to free a couple of Sea Kings from there for the UK?
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Funny, in Ireland, there are questions from one Minister of State on why they are getting 4 'knackered' S-92's cast off from the Brits!
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"Knackered S92s" ?
Because they will be better than the totally knackered/obsolete S61s !
ergo: Knackered = less than 2,000hrs total flight time plus upgrades to IrishSAR requirements ? Wonder how many hours are on the machines you are flying in Zalt? I'd be surprised if there were any S61s with less than 20,000 hrs let alone 2,000hrs. P. |
Chill - I was joking about them being knackered!
This is what is being said in the Irish Times: Minister of State for the NewEra energy and utility plan Fergus O’Dowd, who is a former Fine Gael transport spokesman, says he intends to raise the issue of the State’s €500 million contract for search and rescue helicopters with Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar this week. Mr O’Dowd said there appeared to be “significant questions to answer” over the €500 million deal signed by former transport minister Noel Dempsey last year. The plan to provide a “new generation” of Sikorsky S-92 helicopters for the Irish Coast Guard from 2012 to 2022 hinged on a contract already agreed in Britain with Soteria to privatise its search and rescue service there. The contract will involve replacing ageing Sikorsky S-61 helicopters flown by CHC for the Irish Coast Guard with one new and four second-hand Sikorsky S-92 helicopters. The transfer of the four second-hand Sikorskys, based in Scotland, had been tied into the British privatisation contract timeline. The Department of Transport told The Irish Times this week it had “no reason to believe that the contract will not be fully transitioned by the end of 2013 as allowed for”. A new Sikorsky S-92A due for delivery to Shannon in December of this year is being built in the US, it has said, and the first milestone payment had been paid as part of the contract terms. Mr O’Dowd is particularly concerned about the decision not to opt for a fleet of new helicopters, given that the quoted price did not appear to be significantly higher, and he is also focusing on the decision to exclude the Air Corps. |
only one sea king there with the RAF. so how will that help? Bring back both Sea Kings from the FI...use these aircraft at one of the bases vacated by the S-92s...that means you only need to drag two Sea Kings out of storage to use at the other S-92 flight, and the S-92 issue is covered...as for the 139s down south, they could be replaced if need be by the ex-Irish S-61s:eek:. Simples!:ok: On a slightly less facetious note, bringing back the aircraft from the Falklands would give more fat in the system while the fleet goes through the mooted LEP. But losing two aircraft from the Falkland Islands Air Wing's grand total of 8 would surely require a re-branding...six aircraft is barely a squadron's worth, so how about we just call it the Falklands Air Flight? |
Coastguard helicopter fears David Ross Highland Correspondent Share 25 Mar 2011 The union that represents Coastguard staff has warned ministers they must act before the service loses its helicopters. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents Government agency staff such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), was reacting after it emerged the operator of the UK’s four coastguard helicopters will begin withdrawing the aircraft next year. However, there are no plans yet to replace them and industry sources warn time is already running out to find alternatives. The Herald has learned that the CHC Helicopter company is committed to relocating the four helicopters, currently under contract to the Coastguard in the UK, to Ireland. It is due to start a €500 million (£437m) contract for search-and-rescue services for the Irish Coastguard in July next year that will run for 10 years, with an option for a further three years. The Canadian company based its tender for the Irish contract on using the four helicopters currently under contract to the MCA. These are based at Stornoway (Lewis) and Sumburgh (Shetland) as well as at Solent and Portland Coastguard stations in England. Sumburgh will be the first to go in July 2012 and the last Portland in April 2013. A new private operator had been due to be in place before then. However, the collapse of the £6 billion privatisation of the UK’s search-and-rescue helicopters last month now means there is no new operator contracted to replace CHC. While the same is true for the two military search-and-rescue helicopter bases in Scotland, HMS Gannet at Prestwick in Ayrshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray (still under threat of closure), they can continue in the meantime. However, there is no such option for the Coastguard helicopters. A CHC spokesman confirmed it was preparing to withdraw the helicopters contracted to the MCA. He said: “CHC continues to service the UK Interim SAR (search-and-rescue) contract until 2012. At the expiration of the UK Interim SAR contract, four S-92A aircraft will move to Ireland to begin service there. This will be a phased project ending in 2013. “To date there has been no revision or extension of the Interim SAR contract, therefore there is no plan to replace those aircraft in Scotland.” However, CHC would be keen to talk to the UK Government about continued coverage. The MCA directed inquiries to the Department for Transport where a spokesman said: “Ministers are now considering their options with regards future search-and-rescue cover and will provide an update in due course.” One helicopter pilot who has been flying in Scotland for almost 30 years, mostly in a rescue capacity, said he was astonished. He said: “Everybody just assumed that CHC would carry on. The Government really doesn’t have much time to get this fixed. “Normally you are talking about a lead-in time of at least 18 months for a new contract like this. There really have to be two-and-a-half crews for each aircraft – one on, one off and one half for leave cover. “You have got to find these crews, interview them and train them for whatever aircraft that is going to be used.” Jeremy Gautrey, PCS negotiations officer, said: “The shambolic end to the tendering process that resulted in the Government having to retender has now potentially left the Coastguard service stranded without the guarantee that it will have sufficient helicopters to carry out search-and-rescue operations when the current helicopters retire. “PCS is calling on the Government to ensure that the Coastguard continues to have at its disposal sufficient helicopters to mount successful search-and-rescue operations until a new contract is signed and in place.” |
Perhaps all those people who have had a go at Crab may now have to be nice to him if he is involved in recruiting Reserve Aircrew to man the revamped Seakings in Scotland!!:E
HF |
There really have to be two-and-a-half crews for each aircraft – one on, one off and one half for leave cover |
It's all been very quiet recently, some would say too quiet.
DFT depositions to the northern bases. The one who should not be mentioned (allegedly) cleared of any (alleged) wrong doing. Anyone like to share some informed opinion, or failing that we can just do what we always do and resort to wild speculation.... |
BBC News - MPs to take coastguard changes evidence in Stornoway
I suppose it would seem logical that any decision/announcement regarding rotary assets would be tied in with the results of the MCA review Keep waiting.... |
Let's see what the updated Vision 2020 brings pre summer hols eh?
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Sorry - mis-read the title - I thought this was a thread about the future of the post titled ' UK SAR' after the SAR-H fiasco.......
.......like I said, sorry. |
Made and paid for by Eurocopter I'm told but not a bad bit of advertising for Bristow....
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^^ Nice video.
As you said a good bit of advertising for Bristow’s, especially if they are thinking to go in for the interim contract. (Not that i am saying they are, before I get a backlash) |
In the last issue of rotor hub it was mentioned that a decision on the interim was due in Q2, so eyes peeled for autmumn then?
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Good job - well done:ok:
:D:D:D:D:D |
Sly...I think you might find that the Autumn decision is about what to do and how long to take doing I.....not what the solution and contract might be.:ugh:
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Well done Dave and Simon.
I had the pleasure of flying with Dave for nearly 7 years when I was DCP at Lee SAR with the S61N late 80's, early 90's. In my time there, Dave was awarded the CCG's Commendation for Meritorious Service in 1992 too. I am sure Dave won't mind me mentioning this but he has written a book of his life in SAR "On the Wire" and had it published. If you are interested then PM me and I will let you have the link to the publisher John Whale John, I wouldn't have a problem with you posting the link here, SP |
Hi.....would appreciate the book link please.
Thanks |
"On The Wire"
Thanks SP.
For Tallsar and anyone else who is interested, this is the link to Dave's Book :ok: I have checked the link and it works for me but if you have any problems using the link, then PM me. Bookstore Search Results I have bought the book and am awaiting delivery of it John Whale |
Thanks TC ...works well for me...Cheers
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On The Wire
Dave's book arrived today. If you have done SAR, it is worth getting this book :ok:
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/v...onthewire4.jpg http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/v...onthewire2.jpg Best wishes John Whale |
Search-and-rescue plans unveiled The Independent, Monday, 11 July 2011 Plans to keep search-and-rescue helicopter services going at four key centres were announced by the Government today. The existing Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) contract is set to expire at bases at Portland in Dorset, Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire and at Shetland and the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said today that the Department for Transport would shortly run a competition to procure an interim service at the bases for a period of up to five years. He added that this contract would be similar to the arrangements currently in place for the bases. Today's move follows Mr Hammond's announcement in February this year that the Government was halting a £6 billion procurement programme for search-and-rescue helicopters because the preferred bidder had admitted it had access to commercially sensitive information. Under the privatisation plans, preferred bidder Soteria would have provided US Sikorsky helicopters to fly search-and-rescue missions from 12 bases, including ones operated by the Royal Navy and the RAF. The Sikorsky aircraft would replace the Sea King helicopters which the Ministry of Defence plans to withdraw from service in 2016. Mr Hammond said today that the RAF and Navy operations would continue while consideration was given "to the long-term provision of search-and-rescue helicopter capability". He said he would announce the Government's long-term intentions later in the year. Meanwhile, the Government is expected to announce shortly that it is watering down plans for big cutbacks in the coastguard service. Originally, the Government proposed that the number of coastguard centres be reduced from 18 to eight, with only three remaining open 24 hours a day. But it is believed that the Government will soon say that 11 coastguard stations will be kept on and that all these remaining stations will be 24-hour operational. Job losses are expected to be fewer than the 250 originally planned. The original proposals were criticised in a recent report by the House of Commons Transport Committee, which said that evidence it had received during its inquiry into coastguards had raised "serious concerns that safety will be jeopardised if these proposals proceed". Committee chairman Louise Ellman said the coastguard proposals were "seriously flawed" and there was little support for them. I/C |
Another interesting quote from his statement today...
'The RAF and Royal Navy will continue to provide coverage from their SAR bases as at present, while I consider the options for the long-term provision of SAR helicopter capability. 'I will inform the House later in the year of the government’s intentions for the longer term. The procurement strategy we adopt for the longer term will seek to ensure that the Ministry of Defence is able to complete its previously announced intention to withdraw its Sea Kings from service in 2016.' Is acquiring new airframes in the numbers needed in that sort of timescale realistic? Is acquiring suitably trained crews in the numbers needed in that sort of timescale realistic also? As I understood it the Soteria transition was phased for these reasons & should have started about now in order to allow for the Sea King's demise in 2016. It will be an interesting bit of procurement & project management to replicate that in a significantly shorter timescale whether or not the longer term contract is for 5, 10 or 25 yrs. More interesting times ahead :hmm: |
Here we go again then.......:ugh::confused
I think you are right SW....there seems little time from one contract to another. Looks like the IPT will be busy...... As for the Soteria transition period....I think that was more lengthy than really neccessary driven by HMG rather than what was thought possible...so maybe there is room for some compacting....and of course under the original plan, Mil SAR SK wasn't to finally go from the last few Flts until 2017.....so any winning bidder is going to have to step lightly to get it all to work! Where's Crab when you need him? :) |
No idea where Crab is, but if you need a SAR pilot, or a bloke who worked on the Cyprus COMR bids, the interim CG SAR contract and SAR-H itself, I'm still available. (though Tallsar could also no doubt claim at least 4 out of those 5!)
Iain still needing a job! |
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