"Hammycopter" to be replaced.

[telecat]

The Two MD902's of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, G-SASH and G-CEMS are to be replaced by two new Airbus H145's. Those of you who have been around a while will remember G-SASH was the Helicopter on Scene when Richard Hammond Crashed at Elvington. G-CEMS was purchased due to a donation campaign here on Pistonheads which raised enough money to help fund the second Helicopter. These new Helicopters seem to be Winch capable and given they are bigger and have better range I wonder if they are msiing the RAF SAR units?

[Beanie]

Why do HEMS require a winch? They are not winch trained?

[Steve_D]

Beanie said:

Why do HEMS require a winch? They are not winch trained?

Yet.

Steve

[Beanie]

That'll be the DAY

[ecsrobin]

Beanie said:

That'll be the DAY

Certain crews are now NVG qualified, as for winch trained I can see it happening.

They aren't missing the RAF but what they are missing is press, press brings in money after all a charity is a business. Numerous jobs they turn up to and can't complete so a red and white helicopter finishes the job and gets the news coverage they need the press coverage to keep funding new aircraft.

[Beanie]

Training the front and back seat to be competent as a crew isn't a 5 minute job though, presuming one of the rear crew will act as a winch op, where is the experience going to be gained? and the other as a winch man / paramedic? and then there is the front seat to train also? on the job training would require an extra 1 or 2 POB, I know in a 135 this would have been a weight issue, not sure how much better the 145 is?

[lee_fr200]

Aircrew might have to have military background when it comes to winch operations,
Are they going to be keeping a md902 as well? Or is this replacing both?

[mph1977]

lee_fr200 said:

Aircrew might have to have military background when it comes to winch operations,
Are they going to be keeping a md902 as well? Or is this replacing both?

there's 2 * 145s coming iirc ...

[telecat]

I Think the original plan was that one of the MD902's would continue. Then the government dropped a Million into YAA's account and a visit to MBB in Germany to see how the Original order was going turned into an order for the second H145. The plan now is that the New Aircraft will transition in and the 902's will retire sometime in the middle of next year. The First H145 should be fully kitted out and ready to fly late this year.

[Beanie]

Would be interested to hear how it's kitted out?

[mph1977]

Beanie said:

Would be interested to hear how it's kitted out?

fairly standard helimed fit iirc , I don't think they are talking about full on hoist ops yet ... given the size of the 145 i doubt it would make much difference to layout anyway ...

Edited by mph1977 on Wednesday 8th June 20:44

[Beanie]

Sounds like the same as the current Babcock fit then?