I think this will quite quickly boil down to straight fight between BIH and Draken/Airbus. Airbus have a huge amount of innovation and 'novelty' that they can bring to the table, and Draken have a proven pedigree of delievering SAR training (as Cobham and now as Draken). However BIH have been providing a solid SAR service with a good rep (as far as I know). I think any bid involving Airbus will be difficult to beat on sheer price alone, but reputation counts for a lot and BIH have provided the service very well, which has to count for a lot (one would hope!).

My money is on Draken personally as I have a good idea (having worked with them several times) how Airbus think - they will have done their homework on this one. In any event, it will be a great watch...popcorn at the ready.

The Falklands is not necessarily the problem. I know of many pilots and engineers who have enjoyed their time in the Falklands, both in the distant past (Bristow MOD contract 1983-1998), and Bristow oil contract 2015 - both of which I worked on. And I know of a good number of them now who would jump at the chance to come back here.

However, having also worked there in the past for BIH, over a total of 5 years, I can certainly say that the turnover of staff there was markedly higher than any of the other three organisations that I have flown for in my career. And I know of more than three local aircraft engineers, as well as base management staff, and at least one pilot (me), living in the Falklands, who chose to leave what on the face of it was an ideal job. (At the time I resigned, I did not have another job to go to).

It was the unhappiest workforce I have ever been part of.
That was not my experience. The dedication of the pilots, rear crew and engineers is without question, but the SAR aircraft spend what seems to me an astonishing amount of time unserviceable.

Seems some possible confusion here:

BIH = British International Helicopters - Falklands SAR
BHL = Bristow Helicopters Limited - UK SAR

I don't think there is confusion - surely the Falkland contract is operated on their UK AOC, and the suggestion was that BIH will partner with SERCO?

Well looks like BHL are out of the race then!

"I think this will quite quickly boil down to straight fight between BIH and Draken/Airbus"
"BIH have been providing a solid SAR service with a good rep (as far as I know)"

Actually, re-reading the posts, maybe Balldeep is confused, but the initial comments about SERCO teaming with BIH seem reasonable. Bristow teamed up with SERCO once before for the DHFS contract, but separated (that's why it went from FBS to FBH). Not sure if the parting was amicable or not though.

What do you base that on, they are shortlisted for lot 1,2 & 4 (see link above) so still in it, not?

Baldeep's prediction above. I just tried to point out possibly he got BIH confused with BHL, but maybe he just has inside knowledge 👍

i think someone mentioned that Bristow had picked up the Dutch SAR contract. I never saw a press release

Rumour is Bristow won it but it’s being disputed. Didn’t hear who’s put in the complaint .

what reason could it be disputed?

I think it's standard practice to dispute the contract award. It will probably reveal additional information about the bid - it's a form of intelligence gathering.

Airbus Helicopters UK LTD
Only bidding for the whole thing (Lot 4). Do we take from this that such a big outfit is only interested in a contract of sufficient size to extract a decent amount of profit? Are we going to have to deal with a Super Puma public backlash? This time, is this more about recovering a battered reputation? Draken expected to provide some solid SAR skills.

Bristow Helicopters Ltd
The incumbent has won all but four of the twenty-odd UK SAR contracts and are providing a good service. They know how to do this. They have emerged from rough times and merged with ERA. Apparently undiminished in their SAR ambition. I wouldn't bet against them.

EEA Helicopters Operations B.V.
Parent of CHC who are a former UK SAR contractor. Also been down a rocky road and come out the other end. Current Irish Coastguard SAR incumbent. They know how to do this. Referred to the CMA over their purchase of part of Babcock's helicopter operation.

Serco Limited
One-time electronics company turned general government contractor perhaps in a similar vein to Babcock. Always had some aviation involvement, including aircraft maintenance and airfield support services for the RAF. Expected helicopter partner unconfirmed.


I know you'll all help me out if I got any of that wrong. :rolleyes:

Serco Out
 

https://helihub.com/2021/07/15/serco...pD1OzOssnfYJms

Has anyone with SAR knowledge ever seen a recent UK HMCG’s operational organisation chart, showing JRCC, NMOC, MRCCs etc, and how the organisation dovetails together?

I hear that the Draken Academy at Newquay has just gone under. I wonder how this will affect the Draken/Airbus bid for UKSAR2G?...I am sure it won't help as it will hurt their reputation if nothing else. One of their selling points was the fact that they had a school where they could train new candidates and 'feed' the SAR contract from the bottom up. Sad news for the guys in Cornwall.

Sad for the team there!

Draken Europe has announced plans to close its UK-based Helicopter Academy at the end of this year

So is that the end of the Airbus bid? Or will someone else partner with Airbus Helicopters for this?

Thing is though whoever wins will have to provide some medium / long range SAR with a 92 airframe

cheers

Why do you need a S92 airframe?

There are other aircraft which meet the requirements of Lot 2.