The aircraft specified in the tender is a “crewed, dedicated fixed wing twin engine aircraft” that can fly at a cruising speed of 400 knots with a flight ceiling of at least 38,000 feet.
Mr. Hogan said he also wondered who wrote the tender document, as no one in the air services division seemed to know where it came from.
“The chief pilot has no knowledge of where it came from, the air services have no idea where it came from — no one seems to know where this came from or who wrote it,” he said.
“Usually air services would talk to the chief pilot and ask what needs to be done. They’re the ones who deal with it and know all about it. That certainly hasn’t happened, but the thing is that someone with a very in-depth working knowledge of the air ambulance had to have written it because of the detail that it goes into. I mean, an Air Canada pilot or any other pilot just wouldn’t know this information - it’s too specific.
“No one I have spoken with who is involved with the running of the air ambulance has heard a word about it.”
A former aviation industry professional, who declined to be named, said although a faster plane would be better for patients heading between St. John’s and Toronto, the new aircraft would likely still leave Labrador out of the loop.
“Although this airplane will be able to operate to all of the major Newfoundland airports ... they still won’t be able to operate to any of the Labrador coastal airports and, until they upgrade the Port Hope Simpson airport, Southeast Labrador will continue to be subject to chartered or their twin otter operation from Goose Bay for emergencies. The exception is Blanc Sablon airport,” he told the Pen last week.
He also said there was a possibility this tender was pointing to a new direction for the air ambulance service.
“The contract will give government complete control without any of the problems associated with the airplane’s operation or its staff,” he said.
“If, after things settle after the outcry of the government moving the St. Anthony airplane, and this contract works well for the government, it’s not unlikely the rest of the service could be contracted out — but only time will tell.”
Health minister Jerome Kennedy declined to speak with the Pen about the tender, the communications department saying that a press release would be issued when the tender was awarded. That process usually takes a few weeks.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hogan says his members are asking why a tender was even opened.
“Why? That’s the question the pilots, co-pilots and ground crews are all asking. Everything’s working fine for them in terms of the aircraft. From their point of view what’s the future hold if the government is going to buy up private air ambulances? At this point in time it’s a scary place where they’re sitting.”
egraney@northernpen.ca
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