Operator of model which crashed grounds all 38 of its fleet of Eurocopter EC135 T2s, 16 of which are used by air ambulances
Air ambulances across the UK have had to share helicopters after the operator of the model involved in the Glasgow crash grounded its entire fleet on safety grounds.
Bond Air Services suspended flights for all 38 of its Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopters worldwide after a fuel system warning light came on in an aircraft used by the North West Air Ambulance on Wednesday. Sixteen of the helicopters are being used as air ambulances in the UK.
The company said later on Thursday that the grounding would be temporary, and helicopters were returning to service on Thursday evening as soon as they were cleared of the same fault. Those with the same problem would be repaired and returned to the air "as soon as it is safe to do so".
A spokeswoman said: "As of 3.18pm today, Thursday 12 December 2013, the restrictions placed by Bond on the Police Scotland helicopter have been lifted. The Police Scotland Air Support Unit is now fully operational."
Wales Ambulance Service said two of its three helicopters had been cleared to fly with checks continuing on a third aircraft. East Anglia air ambulances have also returned to service.
Soon afterwards, it emerged that a 10th person had died following the Glasgow helicopter crash in late November, which initially killed its civilian pilot, two police officers and six customers caught underneath it in the Clutha Vaults bar.
Police Scotland disclosed that Joe Cusker, 59, a customer from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, had died in the Royal Infirmary hospital in Glasgow after suffering serious injuries. Five people remain in hospital, including three with spinal injuries, as well as chest and head injuries.
As funerals were held for two other customers, Colin Gibson, 33, and Robert Jenkins, 61, Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick disclosed with "great sadness" the news of the 10th death. "Our thoughts are with families at this difficult time and we will continue to provide support to them as we have done for all of the bereaved," she said.
There is no confirmation that the cause of the crash is linked to Bond's decision to ground its fleet: an interim report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch inquiry into the Clutha tragedy said it had found no immediate evidence of a mechanical or technical failure in the helicopter which crashed.
Bond said it was voluntarily and unilaterally grounding all 22 of its fleet of EC135s as a precaution after overnight safety checks failed to resolve the problem with the North West Air Ambulance aircraft.
The order also affects a total of 16 EC135s used by air ambulance services from Scotland to East Anglia, the Midlands, Thames Valley and south-west England, as well as aircraft used to service an offshore windfarm and lighthouses run by the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Eurocopter and the Civil Aviation Authority said they had no evidence which would ground all EC135s, but the decision is likely to leave medical evacuation services across the UK far more stretched than normal.
Many of the air ambulance services affected said they would be asking neighbouring services to help them in an emergency, or would be turning to the Coastguard and military search and rescue services.
Clive Dickin, director of the Association of Air Ambulances, said services routinely collaborated when aircraft were out of action for maintenance or bad weather, but this was more significant. "Obviously, when an extremely rare incident like this happens, stresses can be placed on the services. However these contingencies are planned for," he said.
Lynda Brislin, chief executive of the North West Air Ambulance, said her charity, which services around 7 million people, had taken all three of its EC135s out of service.
For now, its paramedics would instead use rapid response road vehicles and work with air ambulance services in Yorkshire, the north-east and the Coastguard. "Our focus, as ever, remains to increase patient chances of survival through rapid response and treatment," Brislin said.
The EC135 fleet was grounded last year after cracks were found in a part for a Scottish Ambulance Service aircraft but then reinstated.
Both the airline pilots union Balpa and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said Bond's decision added to the case for a wider inquiry into helicopter safety.
A Balpa spokesman said: "Flight safety is best served when there is transparency and openness and these developments leave everyone asking why.
"This grounding confirms our belief that a fundamental review about how helicopter operations are regulated is needed; a point we will be making forcefully to the House of Commons transport select committee in their upcoming helicopter safety inquiry." Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.
Air ambulances across the UK have had to share helicopters after the operator of the model involved in the Glasgow crash grounded its entire fleet on safety grounds.
Bond Air Services suspended flights for all 38 of its Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopters worldwide after a fuel system warning light came on in an aircraft used by the North West Air Ambulance on Wednesday. Sixteen of the helicopters are being used as air ambulances in the UK.
The company said later on Thursday that the grounding would be temporary, and helicopters were returning to service on Thursday evening as soon as they were cleared of the same fault. Those with the same problem would be repaired and returned to the air "as soon as it is safe to do so".
A spokeswoman said: "As of 3.18pm today, Thursday 12 December 2013, the restrictions placed by Bond on the Police Scotland helicopter have been lifted. The Police Scotland Air Support Unit is now fully operational."
Wales Ambulance Service said two of its three helicopters had been cleared to fly with checks continuing on a third aircraft. East Anglia air ambulances have also returned to service.
Soon afterwards, it emerged that a 10th person had died following the Glasgow helicopter crash in late November, which initially killed its civilian pilot, two police officers and six customers caught underneath it in the Clutha Vaults bar.
Police Scotland disclosed that Joe Cusker, 59, a customer from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, had died in the Royal Infirmary hospital in Glasgow after suffering serious injuries. Five people remain in hospital, including three with spinal injuries, as well as chest and head injuries.
As funerals were held for two other customers, Colin Gibson, 33, and Robert Jenkins, 61, Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick disclosed with "great sadness" the news of the 10th death. "Our thoughts are with families at this difficult time and we will continue to provide support to them as we have done for all of the bereaved," she said.
There is no confirmation that the cause of the crash is linked to Bond's decision to ground its fleet: an interim report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch inquiry into the Clutha tragedy said it had found no immediate evidence of a mechanical or technical failure in the helicopter which crashed.
Bond said it was voluntarily and unilaterally grounding all 22 of its fleet of EC135s as a precaution after overnight safety checks failed to resolve the problem with the North West Air Ambulance aircraft.
The order also affects a total of 16 EC135s used by air ambulance services from Scotland to East Anglia, the Midlands, Thames Valley and south-west England, as well as aircraft used to service an offshore windfarm and lighthouses run by the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Eurocopter and the Civil Aviation Authority said they had no evidence which would ground all EC135s, but the decision is likely to leave medical evacuation services across the UK far more stretched than normal.
Many of the air ambulance services affected said they would be asking neighbouring services to help them in an emergency, or would be turning to the Coastguard and military search and rescue services.
Clive Dickin, director of the Association of Air Ambulances, said services routinely collaborated when aircraft were out of action for maintenance or bad weather, but this was more significant. "Obviously, when an extremely rare incident like this happens, stresses can be placed on the services. However these contingencies are planned for," he said.
Lynda Brislin, chief executive of the North West Air Ambulance, said her charity, which services around 7 million people, had taken all three of its EC135s out of service.
For now, its paramedics would instead use rapid response road vehicles and work with air ambulance services in Yorkshire, the north-east and the Coastguard. "Our focus, as ever, remains to increase patient chances of survival through rapid response and treatment," Brislin said.
The EC135 fleet was grounded last year after cracks were found in a part for a Scottish Ambulance Service aircraft but then reinstated.
Both the airline pilots union Balpa and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said Bond's decision added to the case for a wider inquiry into helicopter safety.
A Balpa spokesman said: "Flight safety is best served when there is transparency and openness and these developments leave everyone asking why.
"This grounding confirms our belief that a fundamental review about how helicopter operations are regulated is needed; a point we will be making forcefully to the House of Commons transport select committee in their upcoming helicopter safety inquiry." Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.