30+ bases each staffed with at least one helicopter but some with more was what I heard when I was there working for ADA last year. I can believe 40+ aircraft is what PHI is being told. Hopefully they are making the SRCA pay for them in advance!

...a Google translation from Arabic from the SCRA website:
"the first phase of the agreement with PHI will establish the rules for helicopters in Mecca, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Qassim and Hail. The contract includes the management and operation of eight helicopters". Then it goes on to mention that a Saudi team will be trained in the US to take over these services in the next few years.

Yeah right, I think we all know how that's going to turn out!

.....saw that announcement from SRCA also. Looks like 8 412's will put at least 64 pilots to work if all goes well. I would expect at least half of that to start with . Glad to see that the contract was signed today, maybe now PHI can move forward with putting the plan together and getting everybody trained up and in the kingdom soon.

Where did you guys find the article? And why 64 pilots?

Go to the Saudi Red Crecent Authorty website, SRCA, and look at the latest press release reference the contract signing today, you will have to hit the translate button.

They are saying 8 helicopters, given a two crew shift with 12 hours and a 28/28 shift that PHI is advertising that equates to 64 pilots.

I'm to understand they are one B412 short of the required number, hence why an S76 is going to plug the gap for 12 months.

Perhaps a good opportunity for someone experienced on both S76 and B412, like me.....oops, count me out, almost forgot it's US citizens only :ugh:Good luck guys, go there with an open mind, and be street wise with their culture, especially in public :eek: For the uninitiated, you'll find it is completely not what you are used to.

For the pork lovers, you'll need to pig out on your favorite BBQ pork ribs before you go (deep fried hamour fish and roast chicken is very popular in Saudi at this time of the year!!). And for the beer drinkers, needless to say quench your thirst sufficiently before you go :=

...there will probably be a proviso in the contract to hire Saudi's wherever feasible. So it might not be a 2 expat crew in some cases, in which case the number hired will be less than that.

Another aspect is the internal hires will free up slots in the PHI domestic roster so it might be a good opportunity for some single-engine pilots to move on to twins (my hunch only, tho).

Taken from this mornings newspaper.

Mutt

They would have to show up for work in order to operate them.

Just out of curiosity, why the citizenship requirement?

Not that I'm looking, but I figured US citizenship requirements were usually only for the DoD type contracts.

Just a wild guess.

Probably a company requirement and not a contract requirement.

Easier to co-ordinate the Saudi medicals and visas if they hire locally.

Maybe an equity issue on pay. If they hire locally they can tax everyone under the same regime. If they put aliens in the mix then they won't be liable for US income taxes and thus give rise to a disparity in take-home pay.

If they do initial competency training in the US it's cheaper for them not to hire aliens.

Etc etc etc.....

I'm surprised that they havent decided to hire only non US nationals on a local contract, it would make their life easier when they stop paying them.....

Mutt

Priceless.

I'll bet they'll still go to the USA for training and maybe a visit to the mosques in Las Vegas?

Mmmmm ......

I'd hate to be accused of being cynical ... BUT perhaps they're hireing only US nationals so they will have no arguments about flying around the Saudi skys at night at 500' agl and complying with FAA Part 91 duty rules .... which might also be why they will try (?) to do the 28-28 on/off thing as well.

Anyway good luck to all the 'lucky' aviators who get the gig! :E

You'll really enjoy yourselves ......

It is time consuming (read: delays) to obtain authorization from the TSA to train foreigners in the U.S. (at PHI). It is also much easier to vet applicants if they are Americans.

Part 91 applies to all in the Kingdom, not just Americans.

I think Spin was referring to the fact that American pilots are used to bombing around at 500ft and more relaxed regulations. Our european counterparts might balk at some of the things we get away with here coming from a more safety conscious environment.

Saudi Red Crescent to buy 8 PHI helicopters - Arab News

Are the 28x28 medics going to be locally licenced?

Without an arabic-speaker on board, how are the crews going to deal with the language barriers on scene?

I'm intrigued to see how this project folds out http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...ic/popcorn.gif

The language barrier was not much of a problem for the LifeFlight Qatar program, what is more an issue is the male medical staff with a female patient.

Indeed - the same issue, except Qatar is significantly more cosmopolitan than Qassim...

Quote:

"Are the 28x28 medics going to be locally licenced?

Without an arabic-speaker on board, how are the crews going to deal with the language barriers on scene?"

I was told that the configuration on the helicopter was: Pilot, Co-Pilot, Medic, and Saudi Doctor. Doc is the translator.

You'll find out quickly that the "Doctors" do not have the skills of the North American Paramedics and are sometimes just along for the ride.

In my humble opinion, that is the most practical combination for that theatre.

BUT... it still doesn't answer the question about whether the paramedics will be licensed or not by the Saudi Health Council? :confused:

Anybody have any updates or heard anything new concerning the Saudi project?

Lastest info from PHI
 

Our Air Medical segment was awarded a hospital contract for three medium aircraft which commenced in May 2012, with the aircraft redeployed out of our oil and gas division. Also, in April 2012, our subsidiary PHI Air Medical, L.L.C. entered into a three-year contract with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (“SRCA”) to provide helicopter emergency medical services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, subject to our receipt of the escrow payment described below. The contract calls for us to place eight medium aircraft in service during 2012, along with support staff, and to operate and maintain the aircraft for the contract term. In connection with the contract, we have entered into an option agreement with the aircraft manufacturer, which upon exercise by us will obligate us to purchase seven new medium aircraft during 2012, and an aircraft purchase agreement, pursuant to which we would sell these aircraft to the company that will lease them to the SRCA, after we complete and configure the aircraft for use in emergency medical services. The contract envisions a transition of the program over time to qualified Saudi personnel, and pursuant to the contract we will provide training services to SRCA’s qualified pilots, technicians, paramedics and communications specialists. Our obligations under these agreements are contingent upon our receipt into escrow of the purchase price of the seven aircraft, less the deposit already paid by the SRCA, in the near term. Air Medical segment earnings continue to improve due to rate increases and certain cost reductions that continue to be implemented.

Mmmmm ...

Very interesting .... all I can say is "Good Luck" with all that .... :E

Sky spy wrote " blah blah blah qualified Saudi personnel blah blah blah SRCA putting money in escrow blah blah blah.



Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Stop I'm going to pi^* myself.

Cheers

Hey don't shoot the messager, I just pasted the info that PHI released. Can't say how valid it is, I just thought it was interesting info to share with others:ugh:

Suggestion: next time give credit to the source by placing the text in quotes. Otherwise it appears that you wrote it.

Forum etiquette applies.

On the tool bar place the text in quote by clicking on the quote symbol on the tool bar. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...itor/quote.gif

Thanks for the suggestion, as you can see I am new here. I appreciate your pointing this out to me. I thought by stating in the header it was from PHI would have covered it, but now I know better. Thanks for the help.

Sky Spy, Not shooting the messenger. Just laughing at the absurdity of PHI's release. It just looks like SRCA has told PHI everything they want to hear. If it involves money or competency of the SRCA employees then you will realize over time there how funny the statement is. I hope everything goes well with this contract but my experience with SRCA has me skeptical.

Cheers

update???
 

So with only months to go to the launch of PHI HEMS in Saudi, there are still no aircrew, medics, engineers or helicopters on the ground in KSA. No bases built, no airman licences applied for and no money in the PHI escrow account. Hmmm!
Sound like the CEO of PHI is a wise man to hold back the assets until the cheque clears in full before pressing the 'Go' button.
Odd to see that the MD900s are still sat at the HLSs in Riyadh from the last HEMS contractor. Hard lessons learnt there then.
Any news stateside ref the PHI-SRCA deal??

Mmmmm ....

Swisherd 'ol darling whatever are you smoking?

I have not seen any post bagging PHI's professionalism .... what I have seen is quite a few posts from people (some known to me) that have stood on Saudi sand doing the job and warning of what is likely to come.

You are quite out of order inferring that companies that have previously been involved in Saudi HEMS contracts have inferior experience to PHI.

I can tell you that there were/are crews there capable of and able to do the job to the highest standards expected of the EMS industry.

The issues are not to do with the Helicopter contractor .... PHI will learn all about that in due course ... their HEMS incarnation will be the 4th different operational change to the Saudi HEMS program .... there is of course one common denominator that continues to be the creator of difficulties ... but as you say ...

"with most new operations there are learning curves and mistakes that get made" ....

That is very true .... the problem in Saudi is that the will to listen and learn from the experienced is somewhat absent . There is absolutely no value in hiring an experienced organisation capable and able to do a job for you and then not allowing (or not paying them) them to do it properly.

You might think you (and PHI) have all the answers ... I really hope you/they do for the sake of the Saudi populous and their seasonal visitors .. but from personal experience all I can say is ... "Good luck with that" ...

To understand you really need to be there. :ugh:

Cheers ....

I heard them flying in Jeddah couple of weeks ago, so the contract is still ongoing.....

As for PHI, good luck, just remember that its not the employees fault if you dont get paid on time, so please ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay your staff :ok:

sisherd78, I look forward to your comments in 6 months :)

Mutt

Mmmmm ..

swisherd ....

Thanks for your response ... unfortunately you don't add anything to allay the issues.

I have never said that KSA is a 'bad country' that is an assumption you have made of me and the others with first hand knowledge of this contract ... what I and others have said is that there are issues within that particular contract that WILL CAUSE GRIEF IF NOT ADDRESSED and just changing technical operators will not overcome them.

Believe me when I say that all of us that have been involved have only wanted to be able to do a good safe HEMS job for the King and people of Saudi Arabia and it is easy to talk up how good its going to be under the new operator. To say we were only there to 'take the money' does everybody involved a disservice ... if you really think PHI is going there for any reason other than the money then I suggest you have no commercial acumen at all.

And by the way it is common knowledge that it was the SRCA (and the Govt. of Saudi) that was out requesting the operational expertise and assistance to set up the practical side of a HEMS service in the kingdom not those operational companies "just trying to win a contract". Get your facts sorted.

You actually come over as sounding like an SRCA employee trying to cover over their inadequacies. := hopefully that is not the case.

Cheers.

Swish,

If you know as much as you think you know about hems S.A. then you surely know that its not the $ they put on the contract that undermines the operators, but the ZERO $ that arrives at the end of the months (plural) :{

If people (who have worked there) consistently put the blame at the feet of the SRCA, then one should smell a rat no? :ok:

BTW, there has never been any doubt about the capability of the operators who have so far (in recent history) tried and given up, exasperated.

Funny that. I was thinking the same thing.

Swish,

You are obviously a committed individual to that cause :D

I dont think any further comments are necessary :rolleyes:

I want whatever he is smoking...it would make life here in Saudi a lot more interesting :D

Mutt,
Did you really hear the former AA MD Explorers flying in Jeddah a couple weeks ago?