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Air Ambulances Across Britain Grounded After Dangerous Fault Found

PA  |  Posted: 08/05/2012 17:45 Updated: 08/05/2012 17:45   PA

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Air Ambulance

Air ambulances covering large parts of the UK have been grounded after a fault was found which could cause them to crash.

Flights of 22 Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters have been suspended as a precaution, operator Bond Air Services said, following the discovery of a fault in an air ambulance in Scotland last month.

A crack was discovered on the main rotor hub of one helicopter, prompting a safety warning by the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa).

Bond said Eurocopter had advised pre and post-flight checks after the fault was discovered but Bond had now decided to halt flights until further notice on safety grounds.

"The company's first priority is safety and it has reported its decision to suspend the flights of the EC 135 to Eurocopter and awaits further comment from Eurocopter once they have completed their investigation," a spokesman said.

About 1,000 of the craft are in use around the world, including air ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales.
In England, the model is in use at Thames Valley and Chiltern; North West; Midlands; Dorset and Somerset; Hampshire and Isle of Wight; and Devon, according to the Association of Air Ambulances.

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Air ambulances covering large parts of the UK have been grounded after a fault was found which could cause them to crash. Flights of 22 Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters have been suspended as a precau...
Air ambulances covering large parts of the UK have been grounded after a fault was found which could cause them to crash. Flights of 22 Eurocopter EC 135 helicopters have been suspended as a precau...
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I-dont-care
22 Fans
21:12 on 08/05/2012
Well its like a problem with BMW cars and they show a picture of a mondeo . Huff post be more factual .
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Reality always bites
Sometimes just a bit peckish
239 Fans
20:25 on 08/05/2012
Pictures of EC135 helicopters. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_EC135
We wouldn't want anyone not to be able to spot something with Air Ambulance written on it!
I-Don't care and Dr turbine may winge about it but someone has to take the initiative!
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I-dont-care
22 Fans
19:52 on 08/05/2012
or a picture of a MD902 which is american .
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roksted
7 Fans
09:19 on 09/05/2012
And the Americans usually take any slur on them to court.
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Dr Turbine
2 Fans
19:29 on 08/05/2012
EC 135 with a fault issue, so I guess stick up a photo of any old helicopter will do??
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photo
Reality always bites
Sometimes just a bit peckish
239 Fans
18:28 on 09/05/2012
Dr Turbine- Your reply to my comment has been removed. (Probably because you used the word ar*e in full)
I appreciate that you took the trouble to reply so I have taken the trouble to explain what and why I posted- You can accept this as a tip or not- Use the preview and edit and if there is a chance your comment may not get through- Copy it so you can paste it later.
This is the copy I made.
I took the time to post a link to a series of photographs of the EC135. That way all the non experts could get a clear indication of the differences between one helicopter and another.
If you are unhappy (Whinging) about the standard of journalism then it is possible to contact the Huff post directly and point out an error. Bear in mind that journalists are restricted to certain libraries of photographs and the company pays a fee to use those photographs. They cannot use links and are obliged to illustrate their story. I prefer to try and be proactive when the story is at least interesting.
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Dr Turbine
2 Fans
20:42 on 09/05/2012
Journalistically you do your profession a disservice when you suggest that anyone acknowledging the fact that an article is misleading or not in anyway supported by other media i.e. incorrect photographic subject matter, is whinging.
However thank you for replying to me directly.
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