UK NPAS discussion thread: Mk 5
 

Sky sports.
David Cameron GAVE 600 million to Pakistan in a one off gift aid package in his first year in office.
At the time the entire U.K. Police air support budget was estimated at 60 million per year.
So he gave away in ONE gift, a sum of money that would've easily run the fleet as it was, for ten years..!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373478/David-Cameron-Pakistan-650m-spend-education.html

Spare a thought for the crews (Plod and Pilot) that are for the chop, they must be so demoralised and wonder whats the point of carrying on 6 months.
Surely that's a safety/CRM issue ?

Corporate sponsorship for a police helicopter operation:}

Now that would be interesting.

No one has a job for life and the money saved via the drop in county police air ops can be applied else where.

A few more bobby's at ground level might be a start.

As for the pilots....

There are always the comfy jobs at Castleair or Air Harrods or the offshore operators like Bonds and Bristows.

However, if the press quote certain people saying;

"He added: “Part of the move will also see four fixed-wing aircraft form part of the fleet. These will be based out of the East Midlands Airport.""

There tends be a bit more credence to the story!
:ok:


Click HERE :p

Romeopapa, what comfy jobs are they then?? Offshore recruiting has slowed right down and corporate/AA pilots need an IR these days just to get an interview.
They will struggle to get jobs like everyone else, unless they have a wad to get an IR

There's no question of the credibility of a plan to have an NPAS base at East Midlands airport,
that's been known for a while, but I was surprised to see the plan to base FOUR Fixed Wings at that one base.

Another report, at the top of that Google search also quotes,
"helicopters" - plural - being based there ?

I'm sure it will all become apparant nearer the date - Cheers :ok:

Nail

Nail, I think this is the article you are referring to.
Police helicopter service to close Derbyshire base to save cash | Derby Telegraph

You may have noticed, assuming you read it properly, that the words you quoted aren't actually a quote from anyone but are the reporters own words. You seem to have fallen foul of your own 'you can't believe everything you read in the press' comment :p

The thing is, one may well 'can't believe everything', but some things that one reads, you can believe .... such as quotes :ok:


At the moment, the official line, taken from the NPAS website is;
"East Midlands Airport (2 bases - one for fixed wing aircraft, one for rotary aircraft) - (subject to contract negotiations)"

I'll agree that on the official site it's not clear whether the word 'aircraft' is being used as singular or plural as far as rotary is concerned, we'll wait and see and as you say nearer the date all will be apparent.

atb

And another thing.
The arguement that the whole of the East of England and East Anglia will be without rotary coverage, is addressed in the NPAS plan by using the fixed wing in standing patrols.

The fixed wing will operate out of East Midlands airport SUBJECT TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

What is the NPAS 'plan B' if the contract negotiations fail?

By declaring it as part of the master plan, the airport hold all the cards and could have NPAS over a barrel.

Wouldn't the icing on the cake be for NPAS to press on with the purchase of the fixed wing and then have no home for them!!
How much would it cost to mothball 4 brand new fixed wing?

Sid,

Thanks for the map showing the new operating model. Do you have the map with the current 20 minute coverage circles?
My local MP has ask to see a before and after comparison.
Thanks in advance. :ok:

... apart from possibly;

Newcastle, Barton, Hawarden, Birmingham, Elstree, Benson, St Athan, Redhill, Bournemouth or Exeter :ok:

Wattisham, Norwich, Cambridge, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Marham, Scampton, Coningsby or any other airfield close to where they are needed. :ok:

Utterly lost for words
 

I hoped, even prayed that someone would see sense in the NPAS structure, even as an ex rotary (now layman) i could see no logic in the current model or for the future proposal.

Alas the logic defying plan has won.....time will tell if it was the right option, and if not i hope those in charge are held to account, sad loss for those who work in the policing world.

and then i saw this and felt it summed it all up:ugh:

http://blogmedia.designpublic.com/wp...9/03/jenga.jpg

ADMIN . .?


Could you please look at Cabby & Romeopapa - I am convinced it is the same person trying to wind the board up. The negative tone of their posts is unnecessary, and the plod word too common.

Thank you.

Merrydown rant.
 

Nay lad, just the one here.
Sounds like Npas rant that, trying to stir the pot a bit? :yuk:

Re the cab cameras as some stated, they may be coming following the unfortunate Glasgow crash.

Very sorry Merrydown....I would not swap the landscape or temperatures where
I am for Manchester:ok:

I am an expat voicing my own views.

Jayteeto..

You say...
"Offshore recruiting has slowed right down and corporate/AA pilots need an IR these days just to get an interview.
They will struggle to get jobs like everyone else, unless they have a wad to get an IR"

Welcome to reality. Do you know how hard it is to get a right hand seat in the fixed wing world:=

Cabby / Romeopapa your due in the jokes thread right now.

What are you on about? Welcome to reality? That's what I am saying!!!
I have both A&H licences, both with instrument ratings. I know exactly how hard it is to get a job, that is what I was saying. Any pilot made redundant will find it difficult to get a job.
My 35 grand fixed wing dream never ever happened, I couldn't afford the pay cut at the time. The helicopter IR let me keep my house..........

JT

I was not trying to be sarcastic but reading between the lines on this thread it is obvious the loudest voices opposing the changes appear to be from ex Wallop nco pilots who see the sinecure ending soon.

The fixed wing operation will provide jobs for others to join the organisation. It will also prove more cost effective because of fuel endurance allowing the air support crew to stay aloft for much longer than the limited range of a helicopter.

UK Police Air operations were never planned as such from day one but evolved to the point where every county chief wanted one for his toy box.

Sadly someone has to pay and with local authority budgets being cut then police on the ground must be a priority.

Slightly off topic I believe the UK needs a national police force to cut costs.

I'm not anti military by the way. One son ex Dartmouth and the other ex Cranwell.

NCO pilots could do with an extra chip detector for the one on the shoulder:ok:

UK NPAS discussion thread: Mk 5
 

Unfortunately RPs mental image of what UK air support was/should be. Bears no resemblance to reality.
The day to day operations of a police helicopter (as was) are way beyond the capability of a FW.
I'm aghast that NPAS have been sold this. It truly does show that those in charge know nothing of what the task entails.
The reason air support was so good before is because it was locally staffed by cops who knew their area and the crime within, positioned locally at the point of use, and able to react quickly.
NPAS are making a career out of misper searches, and even then the results are crap.
Thus opening the door for a private enterprise to do it even cheaper.
You don't need cops on NPAS a/c anymore..!

RP
Do you mean Ex NCO pilots?

Just asking like.