It''ll be interesting to see how they go about putting the Citations on line. That contract always had very specific time on type requirements, so unless they parachute guys in, I could see some long-timers getting upset.
It was mentioned that VIH was pulling it''s 222''s out, is the new contractor not going to use helicopters ?
Especially with remote vehicle accidents and such, seems a long time to wait for ground transport to arrive.
i think it is total horsecrap that westex got the whole thing. total bureaucratic BS. as if there wasn''t someone whole slipped the gov''t a 10 or something along those lines. there are much better companies to do the job. they should have got one contract MAYBE two. that is how alberta does it. just in case you have problems and can not operate AKA OC pulled. i hope (not for pilots sake though but just to prove a point to the gov''t) that westex lost there OC and then watch the gov''t go plead to other companies to do medevacs. i wish every other company would tell them shove it (of course no company would because most see the TEMPORARY dollars instead of making a point).
I kinda wonder if Westex will absorb some of the soon-to-be-unemployed Canada Jet guys for the new Citations? Seems a wee bit foolhearty to venture off in a new aircraft type just when winter is starting to get wound up.
It was looking like they would need 14 new pilots to get going in October.. Then one of the metro drivers quit and went to CWA so it might be up to 15 new hires..
At least that is some positive news around YVR....
As far as the helicopter side of the contract, there will still be bases in Rupert and Vancouver. I believe Helijet got the gig for Vancouver and Not sure what is happening in Rupert. We shall see???
Helijet got 2 S76''s for Vancouver; one crewed 24/7 the other crewed for 12 hrs by Day and STDBY at night..heard a rumour that the coy was going to get the pilots to VOLUNTEER to hold standby for the night shift...LOL.
Van Island has lost its helicopter and I think that VIH has kept the Rupert base..
Helijet did get the 2 machines for YVR. 24/7 for 1 machine and 8 months 24/7 for the other and 4 months over the winter 12 hours daylight only. No free volunteer for the standby. The rupert base is up for bid again. Don''t know who will get that one, but Helijet did bid on it. Don''t know about VIH
