UK PLC can't afford the capital to replace the Sea Kings because it would probably amount to around 2 billion Pounds. Aircraft OEMs don't provide credit so the only way to pay is to 1) Lease the aircraft or 2) Privatise the whole thing.

In spite of what Codfish infers, I don't think you will find any of my former Civilian SAR Pilot colleagues are any less brave or trained than their Military counterparts.

After all, if you are a military helicopter pilot in the UK, where do you do your training? Probably at the Defence Helicopter Flying Scholl (DHFS). And guess who provides that training? Bristow, which has trained all British Army pilots since the 1960s. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

BKHK wrote:

In spite of what Codfish infers, I don't think you will find any of my former Civilian SAR Pilot colleagues are any less brave or trained than their Military counterparts.

nowhere did i INFER that civilian pilots are less brave or trained than military ones, (again re-read my original post
"Transferring from navy to civilian pilots (albeit the same guys) will see them working under CAA rules, which means if the wind is too high they ain't going up north to rescue someone!"

i am not getting at the pilots, as i know they are mainly military trained who then go on to civilian duties, so they are every bit as good - it is the health and safety aspect that i am getting at. I speak to ATCOs and SAR crew every day, and i am only passing on what their concerns are. MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

Gone: a comprehensive list of imprezas and a Merc ML AMG

"I speak to ATCOs and SAR crew every day, and i am only passing on what their concerns are"

Mostly to an audience who would believe you. But, having been there and done that, I don't. In fact, I am offended by your suggestion that rules would come before human life.

That is why you got both barrels. The ATCO and SAR crews you speak with every day, are these the chaps that can fix a Sea King at 500' over the water at night with anything they have lying around.

Extraordinarily talented, PM me their details and I will be sure to send them straight to the HR department in Bristow with my wholehearted endorsement. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

bkhk i think you need to read codfarthers original post no mention of fixing these at night or over water if your going to quote someone get it right

baxc wrote:

bkhk i think you need to read codfarthers original post no mention of fixing these at night or over water if your going to quote someone get it right

its ok, all sorted and in the past! end of story!
thanks
dave MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

Gone: a comprehensive list of imprezas and a Merc ML AMG

Quote:

After all, if you are a military helicopter pilot in the UK, where do you do your training? Probably at the Defence Helicopter Flying Scholl (DHFS). And guess who provides that training? Bristow, which has trained all British Army pilots since the 1960s.

mse,

Your money is being spent here:

http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustaw...and-rescue

and the people of Somerset thank you for it.

Scrumps Somerset - Where the apples do grow and the cider do flow!
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14MY D4 HSE in Scotia Grey - Gone
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Im glad some of its going within the uk Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

mse....

"Cobham Aviation Services is delighted to confirm that FB Heliservices has announced it has been awarded a four (4) year contract plus two (2) possible one year extensions by the UK Ministry of Defence to continue to provide helicopter flying training at RAF Shawbury, RAF Valley and AAC Middle Wallop, together with support services at RAF Shawbury and AAC Middle Wallop. The contract is worth £193 million and will commence on 1 April 2012.

FB Heliservices Limited is a joint venture company jointly owned by Bristow Helicopters and Cobham Aviation Services and specialises in the provision of helicopters, including operational support and training services, to military and government agencies in the UK and worldwide."

Its a fact that UK military helicopter pilot training is conducted by FB Heliservices LTD which was set up by Bristow specifically to conduct military pilot training for all branches of the UK forces.

baxc....

Do you see quotation marks or a quotation box? Its not a quote then, its poetic license. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

Last edited by BKHK on Fri Mar 29 2013 3:11pm. Edited 1 time in total

Still wrong Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

Enlighten me then? Who trains military helicopter pilots if not DHFS at Shawbury, Wallop etc? Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

First of all..."still wrong" was not what you read it to mean eg its still wrong they do it

Secondly ive just got off the phone from my Squadron Leader friend at shawbury - and its not as you portray it Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

Well let's just agree to disagree. Being an ex civil SAR pilot I think it works. We always had the best equipment, great winch crews, plenty of training and excellent aircraft availability rates.

I can appreciate the fondness for the RAF in England, its sad when the institution of being rescued by a yellow helicopter will no longer apply because the Government can't afford to replace the helicopters and keep the crews trained. I believe that the Navy might still look after their own SAR.

You disagree with how I say it is but you won't say how your friend says it is. If you think I am wrong, go ahead and tell me why. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

Im also a pilot - i would much rather have the military rescue me, far better.

Anyway what i said...as it looks like i need to spell it out to account for the earth's rotation, is that its not right eg that we let any private companies do that.

Incidentally, private companies dont do all the training at all levels they have a small role Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

Oh well, I hope you don't need rescuing then because your tax funded military won't be dong it much longer, "wrong" or not (you are a little one dimensional in your description) its fact.

You are lucky, here we have no central government funded SAR or Coastguard. We also only have a small Navy and a very big coastline.

FBH Heliservices / Bristow does the initial training, not operational training, that is quite right. Although from now on, I guess they will do it all, right or wrong.

What do you fly? Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic