King Air 350 in YVR

WhatThe? · Post by **WhatThe?** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:14 pm

Anyone hear back from Carson Air yet? Did they get the BCAS contract? or is it a hiring pool just in case they do get it?

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:17 pm

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:02 am

Seems like that contract changes hands quite often. Hasn't Helijet had that contract for only a couple years? Since westex collapsed? Tough on those drivers that get laid off.

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:53 am

BCAS is a cut above YVR courier companies when it comes to awarding contracts - BARELY...............

Why did Westex go out of business? A big part of it was the non-viability of what they had to bid to get the contracts... of course there were plenty-o-other reasons too...

BCAS needs to move to a better system... Maybe they are now with this change and we will see some more stability - It isn't cheaper to run a 350 than a 200 so unless Carson is really lowballing their bid BCAS should be paying more? Maybe that signifies something.......

Howitzer · Post by **Howitzer** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:12 am

How many companies over the years has BCAS bankrupted? Or at least ruined to a point of almost extinction? Maybe hiring the cheapest person isn't the way to go anymore, spend the extra dollars, get the service for the patient, and maybe you'll have a company that can afford to stick it out for more than a year or two.

flyer · Post by **flyer** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:21 pm

Are the contracts really that bad in BC? In Alberta, they're gravy contracts! Maybe that answers why none of the alberta contractors would touch the bc contracts when westex went down...just curious.

Fresh Prince of King Air · Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:05 pm

I read the request for proposal and the bidding price was 3rd on the list for deciding the contractor. Financially stability was the up there as well and having a BE3B on yer type at time of bid.

Don't think BCAS will be giving out contracts to the lowest bidder anymore.... But hey it's aviation and government we're talking about here...

And yes Carson did get the contract including another one in George as well I believe. I think it was for six BE3B's and. 1 kelowna, 1 Prince George, 3 Vancouvers and a spare. Don't know who got the contract for the Lear...

Anybody?

Fresh Prince of King Air · Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:07 pm

flyer wrote:Maybe that answers why none of the alberta contractors would touch the bc contracts when westex went down...just curious.

I believe I read somewhere in there the bidding contractors had to be a BC company... Or "preference given to"...

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:16 pm

This guy has it right.

Vref plus 10 wrote:rumor has it is that carson has the vancouver and kelowna contract.

helijet somehow got the jet contract for yvr.

nt air has YXS.

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:18 pm

Helijet got the Lear contract - little consolation for the King Air guys getting punted though. Looks like management will be bringing in crews already typed...........

F-16 · Post by **F-16** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:53 am

Well good luck finding guys typed on the Lear 31. Westex had that same problem. Esp. Because no one else in this country runs lear 31's - at least to my knowledge. I don't even think there are any of the guys from the Westex days with the Lear type ratings that are still around and would be interested in this again.

Hopefully the mgmt at HJ will do the right think and ensure that those people have a future with that company, or I hope that they can get on with Carson instead.

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:59 pm

Out of pure curiosity,

has Carson made it's selection for the YVR 350 position(s) advertised yet?

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:26 pm

NEW CONTRACTS BOOST B.C. AIR AMBULANCE PROGRAM

VICTORIA – The British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) has identified three B.C. companies as the successful proponents to provide fixed-wing aircraft services for its air ambulance program following a competitive solicitation process. “Once finalized, these contracts will enhance the BC Ambulance Service air ambulance program as they add a fixed-wing aircraft dedicated to routine medical transfers seven days a week, providing improved support for health authorities,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “This will free up the remaining five aircraft stationed in Kelowna, Prince George and Vancouver to provide essential emergency air ambulance service benefiting patients throughout British Columbia.”

Contract negotiations will begin next week with:
• Northern Thunderbird Air Inc. – one turboprop aircraft based in Prince George
• Helijet International Inc. – one jet aircraft based in Vancouver
• Carson Air Ltd. – four turboprop aircraft (one airplane based in Kelowna and three based in
Vancouver)

“These agreements will ensure safe, reliable, and efficient air ambulance services over the next three years,” said Fred Platteel, chief executive officer of the BC Ambulance Service. “Meanwhile, the BCAS is continuing with its ongoing analysis of the air ambulance program as we keep pace with changing patient care needs, aviation technologies, and training.”
The proponent aircraft feature enhanced electronic safety equipment that exceeds Transport Canada’s certification requirements and are upgraded and modernized in comparison to the fleet in use today. The BCAS is requiring additional training for pilots to further ensure the safety of patients, paramedics and the crew.

In total, seven bids were reviewed by a five-person committee comprised of provincial air ambulance program and purchasing staff, with additional contract expertise provided by aviation and aircraft business specialists. The competitive solicitation process took place over a four-month period. In 2001/02, BCAS air ambulance transported 7,031 patients at a cost of $3,324 per patient. The projected number for 2006/07 is 8,300 patient transfers at a cost of $4,500 per patient, representing a 35 per cent cost increase over the past five years. Increasing call volumes, labour costs, rising fuel prices and meeting and exceeding industry safety standards account for the bulk of the cost increase.

The estimated cost of operating the BCAS Air Ambulance Program for 2000/01 was $20 million and for 2006/07 the estimated cost is $38 million.

Good luck to those effected @ Helijet.

Anybody know where Carson is calling home @ YVR? I would think hanger space for 3 King Airs would be hard to come by.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:57 am

Right now they are using one of London Air's hangars (The old Timberline one) but I heard a rumour they might move over to beside Pasco in the old PW hangar..

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:42 am

And tonight after work, I saw a bunch of Metro's in said hangar..

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:27 am

Well there ya go. Thanks

V1 · Post by V1 » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:43 am

All i know was that the Lear 31's that Westex had were both hangar queens, and not practical ex. parts were super expensive and very hard to find. The lears a large part of the demise and bankrupcy of Westex.
I question why Helijet is bothering with it, but i assume they will cover their butts with it and not take a loss on this.

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:26 pm

Unless they were living under a rock while the whole Westex/BCAS thing went on, they've most likely given those problems a thought.

SkyKing · Post by **SkyKing** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:36 pm

I heard that they haven't even hired the pilots yet!

The contract does take effect Jan. 1 right?

A budy of mine went to CAE Simuflite and it took over 2 weeks just to get the pre approval for fingerprinting and acceptance to train in the USA.

They better get there shit together!

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:01 am

That's funny, I was talking to one of the pilots a few days ago. He was saying his sim date was sometime shortly (told me the dates, I can't remember).

PC12's are better · Post by **PC12's are better** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:19 am

Just curious,
Back when Westex had the medevac contract the 350 was used as the backup to the lear 31 if I'm not mistaken, and the 200's were used as the primary turboprop transport method. Did they (Helijet) trade in the 200's or are the 350's to compliment them? I remember that the hour requirement from BCAS was much lower on the 350 than on the 200. does that still hold true?

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:05 pm

Far as I know, the 200's are all going to disappear here in the new year and the 350 will be the new primary turboprop. I imagine they'll still have CGAA and CC's PUB to backup Helijet's 31.

I believe the 350 pilot flight time requirements will be the same as the 200.

King Air 350 in YVR

King Air 350 in YVR

oops

medevac 350's