NEWS: US firm Bristow chosed to run SAR helicopters

[RyanfaeScotland]

I work offshore like a few others on this forum and I like to think I have a broad sense of humour but I don't think your picture or comments Caberfeidh were the most appropriate.

Seconded. I worked for Survival-One giving out safety gear and safety briefings when the 16 passengers and crew died in the Bond crash. It his us all pretty hard. I know your joke isn't mocking them and is just a play on the old 'make it look like someone else' joke but that image is not one I wanted to see again. Ever.

[Circles]

Glad to here it will be S92s they seem to be a better bird than the 225 how ever am still puzzled how this will be funded at the minute the mountain rescue order the helicopter which is free of charge what happens now under privatisation. Guess we will need hill walking insurance or will mountain rescue pay it since they order it.

As it is now in other areas where this is in place? It's not new, just expanded...have any of the existing choppers with these arrangements declined a rescue due to cash issues?

[RicKamila]

It is a £billion deal, so I wonder if there are provisions in there from the Government that will keep SAR free. I'll keep an ear out for anything I hear.

[RicKamila]

http://www.bristowsar.com/

Bristows have a dedicated SAR website.

[Caberfeidh]

I work offshore like a few others on this forum and I like to think I have a broad sense of humour but I don't think your picture or comments Caberfeidh were the most appropriate.

Seconded. I worked for Survival-One giving out safety gear and safety briefings when the 16 passengers and crew died in the Bond crash. It his us all pretty hard. I know your joke isn't mocking them and is just a play on the old 'make it look like someone else' joke but that image is not one I wanted to see again. Ever.

That pic was the one a few weeks before, when no-one died. Should we pretend they don't crash? I've been offshore while a few paraffin budgies crashed or ditched, it is not a nice feeling knowing I'd have to get in one again. In Israel we used Hueys which were much better, less cramped and easier to get out of in an emergency. If I break a leg up a hill, I'd rather get slung over a stalker's pony than get in a chopper. *Whatever happened to climbers who'd knick boots off corpses?*

[RockyRab]

Glad to here it will be S92s they seem to be a better bird than the 225 how ever am still puzzled how this will be funded at the minute the mountain rescue order the helicopter which is free of charge what happens now under privatisation. Guess we will need hill walking insurance or will mountain rescue pay it since they order it. Nm

The Coastguard have had private companies operating their SAR birds since the 70s as far as I'm aware, the contract pays for the cost of the callout. It is just like you don't have to pay for an ambulance to transport you to hospital if the NHS dispatch a private ambulance to you.

[coachmacca]

Not an area of expertise for me , but have real interest not only as a walker and potential (hopefully never!) user of the service but because I have just finished reading the fantastic , very frank and at times heartwrenching "CairnGorm John" book I wondered if anyone knew of the MRT's thoughts or feedback?

[RyanfaeScotland]

That pic was the one a few weeks before, when no-one died. Should we pretend they don't crash? I've been offshore while a few paraffin budgies crashed or ditched, it is not a nice feeling knowing I'd have to get in one again. In Israel we used Hueys which were much better, less cramped and easier to get out of in an emergency. If I break a leg up a hill, I'd rather get slung over a stalker's pony than get in a chopper. *Whatever happened to climbers who'd knick boots off corpses?*

Ach we can argue it over a pint sometime, I don't want it to turn into a 'big thing' on the forum but just wanted you to know there are folk on here who feel that post was a bit close to home.

[monarchming]

I totally agree with you Ryan.This isn't the right place to discuss this subject.

[monarchming]

Tried to message you Caberfeidh but I see you don't receive PMs.

[Rudolph]

I don't see how any of this can be seen any other way than positive.

There are lots of potential problems with privately run services and they tend to be introduced as a matter of dogma rather than expediency. Sometimes (in the right business) they work well and sometimes they don't.

I don't think anyone has faulted the existing SAR service- which means (as a user) it's hard to see any upside to this change. Therefore my feeling is that the service is unlikely to improve and has a large chance of getting worse. I hope i'm wrong.

Give them a go, Im sure everyone will be impressed.

Fair enough - let's hope so!

[MacCookie]

There are lots of potential problems with privately run services and they tend to be introduced as a matter of dogma rather than expediency. Sometimes (in the right business) they work well and sometimes they don't.

I don't think anyone has faulted the existing SAR service- which means (as a user) it's hard to see any upside to this change. Therefore my feeling is that the service is unlikely to improve and has a large chance of getting worse. I hope i'm wrong.

As already pointed out on this thread, the Coastguard choppers are privately operated. Do they provide a worse service than the RAF and Royal Navy choppers?

[Rudolph]

As already pointed out on this thread, the Coastguard choppers are privately operated. Do they provide a worse service than the RAF and Royal Navy choppers?

I don't know.

My point was that there is little push for change caused by dissatisfaction with the current service.

[Clach Liath]

Unsurprisingly, this contract (which has been a long time in its gestation) had been looked at by the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland. Take a look at Edition 28 of its magazine (May 2012) for an interesting article by Jim Fraser of Kintail MRT setting out the history and prospects for SAR. Link here:

http://www.mountainrescuescotland.org/online-casbag/

[RockyRab]

My point was that there is little push for change caused by dissatisfaction with the current service.

Reading into the details a little bit more, the service should be improved as a result of this change. The military would not be able to meet the requirements set out in the contract, they are set higher than the capability of the aircraft the military are operating. The current service is facing significant issues as the Sea Kings age and although they are lovely aircraft, they are fast approaching the point where they are not able to provide the level of service required or expected.