Author Topic: Air ambulance. (Read 16991 times)

Sneaky_Nikon · « **on:** September 22, 2016, 04:35:50 PM »

Tonight's BBC Newsline will report a delay in the project caused by a. Disagreement about where the machine will be based & b. The lack of a helipad at the RVH.

ww2ni · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2016, 12:27:04 AM »

There IS a helipad on the top of the Royal however it needs updated.
It is difficult to understand why there should be any problems with where the aircraft is kept, maintained, manned etc etc however we have to remember this is Northern Ireland where the simplest of things can become a diplomatic crisis. 😤😤

smudge · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2016, 08:43:59 AM »

Bear in mind that the PSNI helicopter maintenance work is tendered and contracted, so basing an EC35 at the same location doesn't automatically gain any advantage; they'll have to wait until next July to jointly tender with the PSNI ( if that's possible for security or financial reasons ) or issue their own tender.

http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:241433-2016:TEXT:EN:HTML

I'm not certain but I think that the 'name withheld' contractor in that award is Bond Helicotpers.

With that in mind, basing options are fairly open; the air ambulance will have its own crew, and if it has its own maintenance contract then EGAA isn't necessarily the automatic choice.

Sneaky_Nikon · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2016, 09:02:10 AM »

Didn't come over in the report last night, but the implication when I spoke to a jurno yesterday was that they're looking at RVH for basing.

Merlin · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2016, 06:29:32 PM »

Quote from: smudge on September 23, 2016, 08:43:59 AM

With that in mind, basing options are fairly open; the air ambulance will have its own crew, and if it has its own maintenance contract then EGAA isn't necessarily the automatic choice.

Perhaps but if the facility is based outside of Aldergrove then it means providing additional infrastructure (hanger, fuel tanks, vehicle access, etc), all of which Aldergrove already has or has room for.

If the service is, as previously indicated, only going to operate during daylight hours then it could operate from the City, however they have the problem in that they don't have the additional facilities the Air Ambulance would need, and don't have the room to expand.

Quote from: Sneaky_Nikon on September 23, 2016, 09:02:10 AM

Didn't come over in the report last night, but the implication when I spoke to a jurno yesterday was that they're looking at RVH for basing.

The RVH, to me, won't work because it's only going to be a pad with no room for maintenance or fuel storage (not to mention H&S issues).

Don't the Air Ambulance services across the water all operate from airports/airfields?

This sounds like a complete non-issue.

Angry Turnip · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2016, 08:31:18 PM »

Aldergrove would be the obvious and sensible base for my pence worth $:-\$ -it`s almost central,hangers,fuel etc onsite.

Sneaky_Nikon · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2016, 11:04:19 AM »

You're assuming being sensible is part of the criteria.

Angry Turnip · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2016, 12:18:39 PM »

Quote from: Sneaky_Nikon on September 24, 2016, 11:04:19 AM

You're assuming being sensible is part of the criteria.

Fair point-sensible,logical and obvious are words not normally associated with local government.

palace_ops · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2016, 08:27:02 PM »

The start date is obviously getting closer.....G-NHEM has been seen flight testing at Staverton (operating out of the Bond hanger) in the past week or so:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/egbj/30775351961/

It's one of the ex-Cornwall Air Ambulance cabs (G-KRNW), although it looks a bit less colourful now.

Angry Turnip · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2016, 08:34:55 PM »

I found this on BBC news.............http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37922913

rookie · « **Reply #10 on:** November 09, 2016, 10:03:04 PM »

Yeah I posted in the other air ambulance topic opened while in panic when i saw it inbound while loading my wagon today lol

EGAA Maniac · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2016, 12:20:31 AM »

Aldergrove is the sensible as a base option but ASU looks pretty full as does Woodgate hangar.

gadwall58 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2016, 12:29:30 AM »

Could always use the VGS facilities in Ards that MOD is putting up for disposal.

The Gaffer · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2016, 11:07:12 AM »

Anyone know where the aircraft were after titanic yesterday?

It's rumoured to be here for 3 days, but not listed as going to either BFS or BHD since?

G-NHEM for those with logs of traffic.

gadwall58 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2016, 11:54:40 AM »

I saw pictures of it at Enniskillen yesterday, even one of it inside a hangar.

TCX49 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2016, 02:50:12 PM »

Also seen parked at Belfast City Airport!

smudge · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2016, 03:57:13 PM »

Brief blip of it up near the north coast around 14:45 on 2016-10-09 but nothing since.

Still showing in my log with previous reg of G-KRNW in case anyone else still has that old reg. Hex 4008D3.

Mode-S callsign was RHD71 for Bond Air Services which would be RED HEAD 71 r/t.

palace_ops · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2016, 08:07:36 PM »

Quote from: smudge on November 10, 2016, 03:57:13 PM

Mode-S callsign was RHD71 for Bond Air Services which would be RED HEAD 71 r/t.

Just checking the logs, it used c/s REDHEAD 79 and 71 during crew training at Staverton in the last week of Oct/early Nov.

Tango Tango Fanta · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2016, 08:46:00 PM »

North coast tomorrow

Tango Tango Fanta · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2016, 01:36:18 PM »

Portstewart this morning

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gadwall58 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 11, 2016, 01:41:52 PM »

Great pictures.

smudge · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2016, 01:49:22 PM »

Very nice!

Went past Ards around 13:35 and seems to be heading back inland.

in a maze · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2016, 09:56:43 AM »

It also landed at Long Kesh!

Angry Turnip · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2016, 01:50:21 PM »

Quote from: Tango Tango Fanta on November 11, 2016, 01:36:18 PM

Portstewart this morning

Great pics,well done.

TCX49 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 13, 2016, 02:37:53 PM »

I'm guessing if it didn't land at BFS it means it won't be based at BFS?

News:

Author Topic: Air ambulance. (Read 16991 times)