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By: - 18th November 2010 at 20:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This has been mooted for a long while, it was definitely spoken about when I was working at Mawgan alongside the resident 203 Sqn Sea King training unit ('04-'05 ish, so not party politics), I seem to remember that it was talked about happening for 2013.
I would image that it would run along similar lines to the Coastguard now.
By: - 18th November 2010 at 21:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That’ll be Prince William out of a job then! :D
By: - 18th November 2010 at 21:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You are talking about UK search and rescue, military and Maritime and Coastguard Agency? This is not "breaking news" as such if it's the same thing. Search and Rescue - Helicopter (SAR-H) was put in place by the last government as a 25-year PFI starting in 2012. Soteria (CHC, Thales UK and the Royal Bank of Scotland) was selected as preferred bidders by the MoD and the DfT to provide SAR services using 24 S92 helicopters (if I recall Soteria even released pictures of the S92 in their proposed colours). Then the new government came in and suspended the programme, reviewing it as a matter of urgency. No contract was signed for Soteria to actually provide the service, however. Sounds more like it's back on.
By: - 18th November 2010 at 21:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You are talking about UK search and rescue, military and Maritime and Coastguard Agency? This is not "breaking news" as such if it's the same thing. Search and Rescue - Helicopter (SAR-H) was put in place by the last government as a 25-year PFI starting in 2012. Soteria (CHC, Thales UK and the Royal Bank of Scotland) was selected as preferred bidders by the MoD and the DfT to provide SAR services using 24 S92 helicopters (if I recall Soteria even released pictures of the S92 in their proposed colours). Then the new government came in and suspended the programme, reviewing it as a matter of urgency. No contract was signed for Soteria to actually provide the service, however. Sounds more like it's back on.
The government having a PFI financed by a bank that is majority owned by the government :)
By: - 18th November 2010 at 21:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
People already try to sue the SAR guys. My Uncle worked for the MOD once and had to deal with a case where the rescued people sued because the winch crew popped the inflatable raft they'd drifted out to sea on so it didn't get pulled up into the rotor.
By: - 18th November 2010 at 22:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
People already try to sue the SAR guys. My Uncle worked for the MOD once and had to deal with a case where the rescued people sued because the winch crew popped the inflatable raft they'd drifted out to sea on so it didn't get pulled up into the rotor.
I'd be tempted to smack them in the mouth :mad:
By: - 18th November 2010 at 22:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'd be tempted to smack them in the mouth :mad:
Na fnck it counter sue 'em for workplace bullying. Or ask them if they like a lift to go back and get it (we'll even provide a puncture repair kit)
IF (get it) the plan to reduce our litigatiousness society (and taxpayer funding of the same) comes to fruition then this should no longer be such a problem.
Also those evidencing shock at this seem to be forgeting about Bristow Helicopters long history of providing SAR at home and in the FI (and performing bus journey style troop movements down south as well)
By: - 18th November 2010 at 22:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'd be tempted to smack them in the mouth :mad:
chuck 'em back in
By: - 18th November 2010 at 22:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A few years back
Woman after rescue by 771 Sea King wrote to ask where to send the bill for her ripped dress.
771 wrote back to ask where to send the £10k+ bill for the rescue.
Funnily enough...................no reply:D
By: - 12th December 2010 at 16:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
BBC report:
By: - 12th December 2010 at 17:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ne real surprise it was always on the card whatever, the Tories love privatising stuff!
I do agree that the UK should look at adopting the US model of reservist pilots it would offer cost savings whilst maintaining capability.
By: - 12th December 2010 at 17:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ne real surprise it was always on the card whatever, the Tories love privatising stuff!I do agree that the UK should look at adopting the US model of reservist pilots it would offer cost savings whilst maintaining capability.
That would be better than nothing but the way it is going they'll be adopting the Ryan air model if the Government gets their way.
By: - 13th December 2010 at 01:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ne real surprise it was always on the card whatever, the Tories love privatising stuff!I do agree that the UK should look at adopting the US model of reservist pilots it would offer cost savings whilst maintaining capability.
Dont blame just the tories, who signed FSTA?
good idea about crewing though
By: - 13th December 2010 at 18:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's actually an idea from the previous lot: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4753961.stm This article on identical lines is dated 9th May 2006.
By: - 13th December 2010 at 19:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Ne real surprise it was always on the card whatever, the Tories love privatising stuff!
This is where a bit of research or even reading previous posts comes in handy, this privatising of the SAR fleet idea came from and was initiated from the previous government
By: - 13th December 2010 at 21:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This is where a bit of research or even reading previous posts comes in handy, this privatising of the SAR fleet idea came from and was initiated from the previous government
Respectfully I know fully well that the previous Labour government initiated the process of privatisation of SAR, actually I find your suggestion that I don't do research or even look at previous posts rather insulting!:mad:
My point was the Conservatives like privatising things a fact well born out by history! If you would do a bit of research of lets say the 1980's you would find that to be the case...
By: - 14th December 2010 at 01:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Interesting thread.
SAR (H) in Ireland has been fully privatised since circa 2004. Prior to that SAR was shared by the Irish Air Corps' (IAC) Dauphin's/Alouette's/S61N and the Irish Coast Guard's (ICG) S61N's.
The ICG helicopters are owned and operated by CHC (previously known as Bond Helicopters?).
(The contract with CHC was renewed last year for a 10 year period).
Personally I would have preferred for the IAC to have retained SAR (H) - or at the very least have a mix of military/civilian pilots and crews operating ICG helicopters. However the powers-that-be went with the fully privatised version - as now also appears to be happening in the UK.
(Incidentially the new IAC AW139's do have winches in place, but I believe these are only used for 'fast roping' training, etc with the Irish Army Ranger Wing and the Garda Emergency Response Unit, and no dedicated SAR training now takes place within the IAC).
Having said all that, the ICG has done an excellent job with it's SAR (H) remit and actually now covers the whole island of Ireland (which was exemplified by an ICG S61N assisting at the tragic incident in N.I yesterday).
Indeed many ICG pilots and crew are also ex-military - IAC, RAF etc.
I wonder what other countries have privatised SAR (H), and what has their experience being of it?
By: - 14th December 2010 at 02:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just remembered - the United Arab Emirates Air Force use private AW139's for SAR.
By: - 14th December 2010 at 07:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Interesting thread.SAR (H) in Ireland has been fully privatised since circa 2004. Prior to that SAR was shared by the Irish Air Corps' (IAC) Dauphin's/Alouette's/S61N and the Irish Coast Guard's (ICG) S61N's.
The ICG helicopters are owned and operated by CHC (previously known as Bond Helicopters?).
(The contract with CHC was renewed last year for a 10 year period).Personally I would have preferred for the IAC to have retained SAR (H) - or at the very least have a mix of military/civilian pilots and crews operating ICG helicopters. However the powers-that-be went with the fully privatised version - as now also appears to be happening in the UK.
(Incidentially the new IAC AW139's do have winches in place, but I believe these are only used for 'fast roping' training, etc with the Irish Army Ranger Wing and the Garda Emergency Response Unit, and no dedicated SAR training now takes place within the IAC).
Having said all that, the ICG has done an excellent job with it's SAR (H) remit and actually now covers the whole island of Ireland (which was exemplified by an ICG S61N assisting at the tragic incident in N.I yesterday).
Indeed many ICG pilots and crew are also ex-military - IAC, RAF etc.
I wonder what other countries have privatised SAR (H), and what has their experience being of it?
Problem I see is that yes there is a load of ex-Military trained crews which are OK short term, but when these run out, where do the next generation come form? you have to train up new crews and the cost rises.
Posts: 1,259
By: inkworm - 18th November 2010 at 20:52
Breaking news thought the rumors may have been floating around a while, but the current idiots who are running the country and scrapped everything so far seem to be proposing that the Air Sea Rescue goes private.
I can't see how this would work, what next, private fire brigade, families suing if they don't survive?
The current service is non-profit and therefore the pilots have the right motivation, but they also do a thankless task which is very much overlooked and unrewarded.
Now where is my credit card before I get winched up?