India Juliet to go

[Solent Ranger]

Just seen on local news that Bristows has lost the contract to run Lee on Solent and Portland helo rescue services. To be replaced by a Candadian company - so, farewell India Juliet

[DJL]

Not just Portland and Lee-on-Solent, Sumburgh and Stornoway as well.

Will be interesting to see how the new Agusta Bell AB139 performs.

http://www.bellagusta.com/air_ab_main.cfm

Doesn't quite have the same look - looks more like the USCG helos

[codprawn]

Very sad news when you see how much good work they have done!!!

The helicopters they will be using aren't as suitable and even more worrying - what about 22 years of crew experience??? I think this is a dangerous STUPID descision probably made purely on the grounds of cost!!!

http://northtonight.grampiantv.co.uk...7775&newsType=

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by Solent Ranger

To be replaced by a Candadian company - so, farewell India Juliet

Sounds like a good deal to me.

[Pete7]

I am not so sure, this might be a good thing. The current helo (thats a mil frase to keep Codders happy ) at Lee on Solent is huge and could take alot of casualties, but most of there work is rescuing small numbers of peeps. A smaller heli with a higher speed and longer range / endurance is the argument for the change. If they are 22 years old now they have to be replaced sometime. At least there will be 3 of them for the Solent and Portland areas

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Very sad news when you see how much good work they have done!!!

The helicopters they will be using aren't as suitable and even more worrying - what about 22 years of crew experience??? I think this is a dangerous STUPID descision probably made purely on the grounds of cost!!!

http://northtonight.grampiantv.co.uk...7775&newsType=

What makes you say the new chopper is unsuitable?
Are the current choppers not to big for the vast majority of the jobs they are tasked to?
Won't the smaller air frame make it eassier to land or get into spots that they have had trouble with before?
Surely the new birds will be better on fuel?
I think, from looking at the stats, that the wind up time and speed is better on the bell thus making response times better, I stand to be corrected.
Am sure the changes have not been taken lightly.

Don't get me wrong th service that is provided at the mo is second to none and should never be knocked but just trying to add a bit of perspective.
Our HMGC is the envy of all the world over, even the septics over the pond!!

Regards

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

What makes you say the new chopper is unsuitable?
Are the current choppers not to big for the vast majority of the jobs they are tasked to?
Won't the smaller air frame make it eassier to land or get into spots that they have had trouble with before?
Surely the new birds will be better on fuel?
I think, from looking at the stats, that the wind up time and speed is better on the bell thus making response times better, I stand to be corrected.
Am sure the changes have not been taken lightly.

Don't get me wrong th service that is provided at the mo is second to none and should never be knocked but just trying to add a bit of perspective.
Our HMGC is the envy of all the world over, even the septics over the pond!!

Regards

The SEA King wasn't called that for nothing!!! Most coastguard work is at sea hence open spaces unless it's cliff rescue work.

What about 22 years of experience - even more important than the aircraft!!!

Looking at past rescues there were quite a few situations where they carried off loads of people at once - a Sea King is capable of taking an entire crew off in one go from most normal merchant ships - wouldn't like to be one of the poor sods left behind when they use the new ones!!!

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by codprawn

......What about 22 years of experience - even more important than the aircraft!!!....

I understand a percentage of the current crew will stay. Des

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by codprawn

What about 22 years of experience - even more important than the aircraft!!!

It's a rather obtuse service provider that doesn't employ the previous firms staff, providing the Client was happy with them!

[codprawn]

Well the people in shetland don't seem to happy about it - including one of their local councillors!!!

http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/pages/news%20stories/Nov%202005/doubts_over_mca's_chopper_choice.htm

What would a local councillor know??? That's what I thought until I read this bit.

"Shetland councillor Gordon Mitchell, a retired helicopter pilot who set up the Bristow base at Sumburgh Airport more than two decades ago, said introducing an untried helicopter in an air and rescue service would put the crew in an impossible situation."