Just curious, how much flying will you get per year doing hems in Saudi Arabia?

60-80 if you are lucky. Most of mine were night missions.

That is pretty low. I did about 200 in a year in Qatar during the proof-of-concept year. That is averaging a .5 launch to finished flight time in a day only operation. I would think that KSA would offer some longer legs with a like number of events and 24 hour operations.

mfriskel, on the 18/19 Jul, we had traffic advisories about a helicopter lifting off from a hospital and remaining below 500 feet, I think the callsign was HZ-RC2 (or similar), as it was 1am, i have no idea about the type.

Swisherd76, I love your enthusiasm and confidence. Comparing Aramco with "ANY" other Saudi company is a big mistake....... Good Luck.

Mutt

Mutt
That'll be a 'Bell 412 Classic' that you heard; it's based at OEJF and operated by Abu Dhabi Aviation for SRCA.

Mmmmm ....


...... they didn't get to where they're now in just three years and they also had PHI helping them for quite some time. .....


Helping them do what ?

Mutt,
I am sure the acft wasn't an Explorer. They only got a couple out of country when things went bad, and the two that were left were in no shape to fly two years ago. They have been left to rot since then. Would be interesting to see if someone did get one airworthy now, and who that someone might be.

Mmmmm ...

swishy ....

Might it be that you perceive my comments negatively because they clash with your own biased views.

I could (but I won't) list all of the issues that should have been addressed by SRCA in setting up a HEMS service in the Kingdom ... things that should have been done just to meet the normal requirements for any aviation operation let alone an aeromedical one.

Things that many of the posters on this thread (not just me) have witnessed for themselves because they have been there and seen personally just where those deficiencies lay.

If your saying that SRCA purposefully denied those past operators those things that were required because PHI advised them that they were not necessary and that those decisions were approved at a board level ... well that just proves my point.

The thing is ... a lot of motivated Aviators and Paramedics signed up to go to Saudi with the intention of doing a 'first class' 'worlds best practice' job ... when they got there they found that was just not going to happen.

And to address your quote ...

....Your way is the right way; therefore the correct observation based on what exactly?

I can only guess your inferring that I have may have limited experience to back up my views ..... perhaps your right (but I don't think so) ... I note from your log on data that you purport to be 34 yrs of age ... that if true means that I flew my first EMS task before you were born ... and I have been involved with this type of tasking for some considerable time ... I guess its that long timescale of accrued knowledge that allows me to make those judgements.

I do hope the PHI HEMS incarnation works for the people of Saudi Arabia .... time WILL tell .... but I can tell you that 'Faith & Optimism' will just NOT hack the pace in EMS or Aviation .... it needs a motivated skilled & trained up team that can see where things need to be improved and then do that quickly .... It also should not be burdened by an inept egotistic bureaucracy ... Quite the opposite in fact!

Lives depend on it !!

In the meantime ... I will of course continue to enjoy being me :D

Cheers ...

Swisherd,

I think you are missing the point. ADA, PHI, are all capable operators. I can't speak for AA. The problem is with the customer. If I offend anyone by this next statement then I am not sorry. A lot of the arab world is brought up thinking that it is ok to lie to your face if it gets them what they need. It only becomes a problem when the lie is found out. They are masters at blowing sunshine up your as$. If you are going over for the PHI contract, ensure you keep this in the back of your mind.

Cheers,

And...... That's why they call it the LFZ :ugh:

LFZ..............
 

Im stuck in the LFZ and i cant get out..........:{

Any news from Saudi Arabia?...I wonder how ADA's pilot are doing.....;)

Latest from PHI:

I heard that ADA is recruiting for hems in SAUDI ARABIA as well...different contract perhaps??:confused:

Mmmm ...

Oh dear .. there seems like there is going to be a delay with the much vaunted PHI input to the SRCA Saudi HEMS project ....

I wonder what the problem might be ?? :rolleyes:

Mmmmm ...


......it was agreed upon (awhile ago) to commence the project in September and it already began as scheduled without issue......


Well thats NOT what I hear ... ADA crews still in their appropriate seats and no sign of PHI ... anywhere :=

Perhaps they'll arrive after Hajj ? :rolleyes:



:ugh:

In sha'Allah. ;)

Have PHI started flying medical flights yet?

It will be interesting to see if they keep them "N" registered or "HZ".

Good Luck with the endeavour.

Mutt

Bell 412 and S-76 to Start?
 

There were reports of a Bell 412 and S-76 in Saudi markings at Lafayette in early summer. Where these the first helicopters deployed to Saudi Arabia ... or other types? (The rest of the new Bell 412s were registered to PHI mid-summer)

Did I hear the rumor right? A PHI 412 ran out of gas on their way to a base just north of Riyadh while the news crews were waiting to film their arrival? :D That's freakin' hilarious. Don't think ADA has any worry about losing the contract any time soon. Oh and welcome to the logic free zone PHI and your crews. Good luck and keep your sense of humor.:ugh: You're going to need it.

Mmmmm ....

...... A PHI 412 ran out of gas on their way to a base just north of Riyadh while the news crews were waiting to film their arrival? ......

Ooohhh that rumour can't be right .... PHI wouldn't do such a thing ... they're SO professional !! :eek:

... The FUN (?) begins .... ;)

Good luck chaps .... :ugh:

Bollocks, it can't be true because they burn Jet-A, not gas. :E

Dude, "gas" is slang for fuel. So relax.

Before landing check list, I can't believe you answered that! :hmm:

Dude, you relax. It was sarcasm, thus the :E after my post, Dude. Lighten up Dude, no sense of humour, Dude? :rolleyes:

It's the funniest thing I've heard all week....nay, all month!

They obviously haven't read and signed the SRCA Standard Operations Procedures ref fuel minimas!:ugh:

Wonder if it's in the Arab News yet? Must go and have a look.

Mmmmm ...

You have to beware of the 'Thumamah' triangle ..... :=





:E

Sikorsky s76++ painted with SRCA logo
 

Sikorsky s76++ painted with SRCA logo

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/00bac92031.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/f0ca047b67.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/8c50191a75.jpg

Mmmmm ....

Excellent .... happy to see 'they' have arrived at Thumamah ....

Be interesting to see how many Saudi vehicle drivers will be able to drive beneath the rotor disk at a 'scene' before an accident happens !!!

Ooohh and those 'little wheels in the sand .... :ooh:

Anyway ..... Good luck chaps ....

:uhoh:

Notice HZ-RC07 (Red Crescent 07) in the background. That meets the GACA requirement of at least one aircraft be HZ registered.

Mmm ...

Yes .... but that 412 is an ADA aircraft ... NOT a PHI machine !!

And whose is the AW139 in the foreground ?

Mmmm ...

Same mob as own the 412EP .... :hmm:

Saw a 412 in Hail last night, US tailnumber ending in MA (IIRC).... Is this an ADA machine or PHI?

I was surprised to see it there, i thought that they would be operating around the Hajj locations.

Mutt

When I was there all the ADA machines were in Saudi registration.

The problem with Hajj locations, well, there is a Non-Muslim crew TFR around Mecca, so if anyone on board isn't a Muslim (and yes, they make you pick a religion when you get your visa's and such) you can't fly there.

Saudi Red Crescent Authority SRCA
 

SRCA helicopters in Makkah ARAFAT

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/75f2f4a1b1.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/22e8c1aa19.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/00ce92073d.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/1a51ac3717.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/a7b32cecab.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/91679c82ce.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/7aa03ebfec.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/2d467e30f2.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/89a5993c82.jpg

http://www.air.flyingway.com/up/2011/c69940ca65.jpg

Yes but are any of the above PHI ?
I see the company is reporting a loss on the contract so far Is it actually operational yet ?

Mmmm ...

AFAIK all the above pictured B412EP's are still ADA aircraft. :D

ADA still going strong and still doing the job!

So what's the news from the PHI side of SRCAs HEMS? 2 machines in country but no news of any missions.!!