32 Sqn at Northolt - New operator?
 

I understand the 32 Sqn VVIP contract at Northolt is up for renewal from 1st April - currently operated by Premiair with three AS355F1s. One rumour doing the rounds is that it has been won by PDG who intend using 355Ns instead.

Has anyone else heard this?

Won by PDG - and then withdrawn because they couldn't produce the goods. Look to the South West for the surprise new winner :eek:
...........and it's 1st April 2006!

355N was the requirement, state of the art aircraft and all that!! Didn't know it had changed though.......

I think Fortyodd is correct, but I dont think it is any surprise!!

Should the winner not be south Wales/ South west with A109s.

I certainly have no inside line on this but I thought it was a contract taken over ['at any price'] by a company operating out of Central Somerset to assist them in another far larger contract they seek with the help of many politicians....

Thanks Bryn! That certainly explains one or two other things I've heard along the way....................(Has anyone told Mr Hesletine??) :eek:

PA News: Not sure what your 'at any price' statement is supposed to mean?? From what I understand the most capable aircraft and the one that is most suited to the task eventually won the tender. Given other comments on this thread your statement makes no sense whatsoever!!

most capable , suited to the task ....... now if all contracts were awarded solely for this then the playing field would be considerably more level then the old Huish pitch ( I guess it has been levelled now ).

Eurobolkow as I do not know who you are I will treat your argument with my post with less gravity that if you were to send me a PM declaring your interest in this matter...

Meanwhile I refer the honorable gentleman to my earlier post where I clearly declared the shaky ground upon which I was commenting... I do not recall stating anything to do with the aircraft type nor directly the name or the capability of the service provider ... I did however place in quotes the comment made to me at the time I learned the information.

This is a Rumour network and what I wrote was quite clearly posted here as an unconfirmed line of information. Please look up 'thought' in your dictionary.

As for most capable aircraft... what does that mean?

Type most capable or replacing the existing AS355F1s or PDGs proposed AS355Ns or has there been a change in the spec?

If it is true that PDG initially won the contract on the 355N perhaps that was the 'most capable aircraft' ........ but the Power's provide a suitable alternative...... as might a whole tranche of other types.

Thinking about it Eurobolkow that was a strangley attacking post on what was a pretty low key item ... for a person without some finger in the pie...

Shown your colours?

Types?
 

Will this Somerset company be providing UK designs or those originally from Italy/

Any ideas on types?

And yes the Huish pitch is now level!:p

Is it Castle Air?

Looks like Agusta Westland won the contract with 3 A109 Powers.

Central UK would be a more siutable guess as to the location of the end provider of the 3 aircraft in question.

Agreed, it is likely to be Sloane at Sywell.... however, those earlier 'rumours' and everything heard subsequently only made mentioned of AgustaWestland ['the mid-Somerset company'] so it could theoretically still go anywhere.

Read the newswires.
See Agusta Westlands Website.


Date: 10/05/2005
AgustaWestland Wins Competition To Supply No 32 (The Royal) Squadron, Royal Air Force, With A109 Power Helicopters

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Defence Logistic Organisation, on behalf of Headquarters 2 Group, Royal Air Force Strike Command, accepted the AgustaWestland tender, following a competition, for the provision of a Civil Owned Military Registered (COMR) helicopter Service for 32 (The Royal) Squadron.

This service will provide helicopters from 1 April 2006, to be operated in the VIP and Communications role by 32 (The Royal) Squadron from RAF Northolt. The AgustaWestland proposal for three A109 Power helicopters marks the first entry of AgustaWestland into the UK COMR market. The selection of A109 Power for the Civil Owned Military Registered Helicopter Service provides further testimony of the helicopter's competitiveness, versatility and performance.