New Helicopters for Royal Family

[Nereus]

3 new helicopters for royal family

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... yal-family

The air force will commission three new S-92A helicopters for use by Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the royal family, air force spokesman Monthon Satchukorn said on Friday.

Air Marshal Monthon said the air force has bought the three S-92A helicopters from Sikorsky International Operation of the United States.

Two of the craft will be put into service for use by members of the royal family when performing their duties.

The other will be used for medical services. It will be fully equipped for emergency medical treatment.

Air force chief ACM Ithaporn Suphawong will accept the two helicopters in a hand-over ceremony at Squadron 601 of Wing 6 at the Don Muang air force base on Monday, April 11.

The two helicopters will be attached to Squadron 201 of Wing 2 in Lop Buri. After that they will be assigned for training and operating flights at Squadron 509 in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

The 12-seat S-92A helicopter is of high safety standard. It is in use for VIPs and leaders in many countries including Malaysia, Brunei, Australia and South Korea.

The helicopter has the capacity to fly non-stop for up to 2.5 hours at a speed of 151 knots, or about 280km per hour, with a range of 970km, the spokesman said.

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Well, at least they are new aircraft. At 30 Million US plus each they will need to be good. Think they may be a bit out with the reported 12 seat capacity, unless they are all in VIP trim.
They have a lot of component commonality with existing Thai Military Black Hawks, which is a good thing.

edit to add info link: http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/s92/

[Spitfire]

It's got to be a better and safer solution than the present road travel MO using countless police officers to block every soi ajoining the road to be driven along. I have often wondered why helicopters have not been used more. Good idea, despite the cost factor, I reckon. Reliable helicopters by all accounts too.

[velboy]

They do you use but the tend to crash em a bit too often in Thailand.

Must be the quality training the receive

Met some thai pilots in Canada who were receiving training to be first officers for CHC Thailand (Just a bunch of rich kids), guess who CHC use for Captains in Thailand....it isn't Thai's

The Thai contingent is just to keep the Government happy to keep signing the contract.

[Hobiecat]

I happen to know a Thai female Captain working for CHC in Songkhla whom I'm told by friends who have flown with her, does a very good job. I believe CHC is probably one of the premier international helicopter companies world wide who's training is second to none. I haven't heard of any crashes in LOS lately? Did I miss something?

[velboy]

Not knocking CHC they trained me. Should have added they weren't being trained by CHC that was outsourced to another organisation (Cheaper option).

Bet her first officer isn't a Thai though. Willing to bet they don't fly all Thai crew ever!

CHACHOENGSAO, Jan 11 – Two persons, a pilot and a senior aide to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, were injured in a helicopter crash in Chachoengsao Tuesday morning.

News heli in Pattaya Sep 2010

Last big one I know in Thailand was in August 2010 (10 Dead)



I know a friend's whose aunt who worked for the queen. 2 royal heli's on a trip; queen in the lead heli. Entourage in following heli crashed killing all on board RIP(happened quite a few years ago). AND they were royal trained pilots....phew.

Feck if i'll ever fly with Thai captain. They can't even drive on the roads

[johnnyk]

I know a real party animal from across the gulf who spray-painted HM's copter a few years back. HM should only know what else he has sprayed!

[Hobiecat]

Bet her first officer isn't a Thai though. Willing to bet they don't fly all Thai crew ever!

As a matter of fact I'm told some flights are all Thai crew in Songkhla at the moment, unfortunate for us xpate pilots.

The frequency of the crashes sounds about par with the rest of the world? Thai Airways seem to keep there A/C in the air. I'd go out on a limb and say there's got to be good and bad pilots here in Thailand that are capable of making good or bad decisions same as else where in the world. Personally I've been pleasantly surprised with the skill and professionialism of some pilots from places like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Saudi or say Russia. Can't see why Thai would be any different. I think it's unfair to paint a whole race with the same brush.

[Thaiheliman]

Ok, can't standby and see inaccurate info posted any longer.

1) CHC does NOT operate in Thailand.
2) TAS (Thai Aviation Services) operates in the Gulf of Thailand for Chevron and Pearl Oil.
3) CHC supplies SOME crew and aircraft to TAS
4) TAS has Thai pilots that have either been trained ab initio by Chinook Helicopters in Abottsford, British Columbia or by the school in Hua Hin or by the Thai military.
5) The pilots chosen for training in Canada are not all "rich kids". They are however well educated and are fluent in English. ALL hold university degrees. ( something all most none of the ex-pat pilots have)
6) All Thai pilots are hired as First or Second officers and MANY Thai pilots have been upgraded to Captains.
7) Many of the Thai pilots are some of the best and brightest I have ever had the pleasure to fly with.
8 ) Many flights are flown by all Thai crews.
9) TAS no longer operates from Songkhla. Nahkon Si Thamarat and Utapao only now.

CHC has NEVER trained any ab initio pilots, so velboy must be referring to advanced (IFR, Offshore) training.

There has only been one (non mechanical) accident by TAS in the Gulf of Thailand and it was crewed by ex-pats.

TAS has its share of excellent, good and not so good pilots and they come from all over the world.

[migrant]

Ok, can't standby and see inaccurate info posted any longer.

1) CHC does NOT operate in Thailand.
2) TAS (Thai Aviation Services) operates in the Gulf of Thailand for Chevron and Pearl Oil.
3) CHC supplies SOME crew and aircraft to TAS
4) TAS has Thai pilots that have either been trained ab initio by Chinook Helicopters in Abottsford, British Columbia or by the school in Hua Hin or by the Thai military.
5) The pilots chosen for training in Canada are not all "rich kids". They are however well educated and are fluent in English. ALL hold university degrees. ( something all most none of the ex-pat pilots have)
6) All Thai pilots are hired as First or Second officers and MANY Thai pilots have been upgraded to Captains.
7) Many of the Thai pilots are some of the best and brightest I have ever had the pleasure to fly with.
8 ) Many flights are flown by all Thai crews.
9) TAS no longer operates from Songkhla. Nahkon Si Thamarat and Utapao only now.

CHC has NEVER trained any ab initio pilots, so velboy must be referring to advanced (IFR, Offshore) training.

There has only been one (non mechanical) accident by TAS in the Gulf of Thailand and it was crewed by ex-pats.

TAS has its share of excellent, good and not so good pilots and they come from all over the world.

Nice post!!

Welcome

[velboy]

The accidents I referred to were NOT CHC pilot's.

CHC training is excellent.


CHC operate in the Gulf of Thailand under the TAS AOC

[bcrglobal]

The funny for me is that the people lumping all Thais together as being useless tend to be the same ones screaming "Racism" every time they're not treated with respect.....don't know the posters involved yet, but it'll be interesting to see if this holds true....

[velboy]

Way to kill the thread and play the race card.......

[Thaiheliman]

CHC operate in the Gulf of Thailand under the TAS AOC

From someone who worked in Songkhla for over 7 years, I can tell you that is simply not true. What I said before stands. TAS is a stand alone company, who contracts CHC to supply some crews, a/c and technical services.

CHC training is excellent.

Thank you for the compliment, as I'm one of the Check and training pilots for CHC

[Hobiecat]

Mr Thaiheliman,

Check your pm.

[Big Boy]

Mr Thaiheliman hasn't made enough posts to be in the PM system yet.