A new species photographed in wild for perhaps the first time.

https://twitter.com/glendog74/status/794575815384174592

Ground clearance?

Yes. There is some.

Although the S-92 at first appears to have greater ground clearance than this, it does in fact have far too many expensive toys very very near the rocks. I wouldn't like to say which one wins the ground clearance competition without some careful measurement at a range of loads. :8

Ground clearance is a matter that I and many others have mentioned repeatedly over the last few years. :ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

Unfortunately, manufacturers want their aircraft quite close to the ground for a number of reasons. Though SAR is a good reputational boost, their first thought is probably about how to get lots of rich fat barstewards up into the aircraft without bursting a blood vessel. :E

Now here's a thought. :8

It will be summer 2018 before implementation is complete (AW189 operational at Inverness). The original programme, way back at the start of this, had a transition-out for Lot 2 (AW189 bases) starting at Inverness on 31 March 2023.

So the public part of original bid process for the current contract started in November 2011, award was March 2013, and commencement of service April 2015.

NRP10045 UK SAR Schedule 2.5 - Transition and Acceptance shows the following timetable for lot 2 bases.

Inverness - March 2023
Lydd - June 2023
StAthans - Sept 2023
Prestwick - Dec 2024 - oops!? :ugh:
Lee - March 2024

Is that a misprint for Prestwick? A bit more job security for the lads! :E

If the contract process goes as before it should go public in November 2019. The DfT hardly has time to draw breath after the AW189 is fully in service before it is time to think about a new contract. :rolleyes:

There is provision for an extension of up to two years.

NRP10045 UK SARH General Conditions of Contract, at section 2.2, reads as follows.

"The Department may extend the duration of this Contract for any period and for any combination
of Bases for up to a further twenty four (24) Months from any Expiry Date. The Department shall
exercise this option, for each Base, no later than six (6) Months prior to each Expiry Date."

My guess is that they will extend. If they extended Lot 2 by two years and Lot 1 by one year then they would have a continuous transition programme from 1st April 2025 to 1st April 2027.


Thoughts?


Rumours?


Do you think it might be a good idea to mention search dogs in the contract this time? :ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

Anyone know why they flew AW189 SAR G-MCGO to Chertsey and down the Thames as far as Dartford on Tuesday?



(G-MCGO is believed to doing work-up in prep for commencement of service at Lee-on-Solent in April along with G-MCGS.)

A quick jolly before lunch.

Training with Thames CG??

Seen a few helicopters in hotel car parks at lunchtime over the years. Usually yellow. Must my eyes deceiving me, eh Crab? London airspace not 'off the radar' figuratively and literally though. But no, not a jolly.

Nothing wrong with doing some training and having lunch away from base. Just a bit awkward if you get called out just as food is being served though:)

AW189 - STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
 

G-MCGS took a break from Lee-on-Solent work-up at the weekend to come and show Scottish Mountain Rescue the new era part 2. It made an impressive entrance at a not very rotorcraft-friendly Birnam.

It also visited Dalcross on Sunday where it was seen by more SMR and SCRO folks. I had a bit of hands-on geekery with its fancy toys.

Nice cab. Really looking forward to seeing what it can do at the back of a gnarly corrie on a stormy night.

Any news on how the AW189 is getting on at Lee On Solent? Understand it came on line 1 Apr.

It went out and did the job an hour after coming on shift.

Not heard any specifics but then I am not as plugged in to the maritime rumour mill as the rocky stuff.


What concerns most now is when are we going to see an aircraft up at Prestwick?


BHL have accepted GO, GR and GT in recent months and GU and GV are now on the register, though not seen in the wild.

AW189 G-MCGT left Lee-on-Solent first thing this morning and arrived at Prestwick to start a two month work-up this afternoon.

GT and a second aircraft are due to commence service from Prestwick on the 1st July. This will release two S-92 (GG & GL) for service at Stornoway where they will replace aircraft with the Gap contract spec.

The Gap contract (2013-2017) ends on the 30th June and includes the permanent end of service at Portland.

Great effort by whichever flight rescued the missing surfer off Macrahanish:ok:

Would be interesting to know if it was a visual spot or FLIR.

I had a similar last light spot of a missing person in an inflatable dinghy with an electric motor in Cyprus back in the 80s but he hadn't been out for anything like as long as the chap on the surfboard.:ok:

Mark One Eyeball by the look of it.


Interview with Captain shown in Telegraph online report.

Well done Andy and crew:ok:

Well done all at Pretwick - nice one :ok:

Well done to the Prestwick crew.

Some appreciation should also be given to the Coastguard Officers at Belfast who developed the apparently successful search plan that placed the UK Coastguard SAR helicopter into an area in which the Mk I eyeball became effective.

Given the number of known unknowns and the possibility of an unknown unknown, the Coastguard Officers at Belfast, or whoever was search planning for them, deserve a pat on the back. They were either highly competent or blessed with good fortune - possibly both. Good result in any case.

Look forward to hearing the survivor's story.

True Bluenose and the lifeboat crews and coastguard teams around the coast.

Nice to share in some happy news on pprune.

Well covered in the TV News on most channels here in Victoria: including the interview with Andy :ok: