13 August 2008

MD Explorers Return to Service

 Following the SAS decision last Sunday to voluntarily ground the eighteen MD 902 Explorers which it maintains in the UK, MD Helicopters responded straightaway to minimise any impact on customer operations. A manufacturer’s service bulletin was issued on Tuesday calling for an inspection and modification to the aircraft’s tail boom thruster control rod.

In the meantime, SAS has ferried eighteen Explorers to its Gloucestershire Airport base and has been working round the clock to implement the service bulletin and is releasing the first five aircraft back to service today. SAS plans to have the whole fleet back in service by this Friday.

The only two exceptions will be the Wiltshire Police and Air Ambulance Helicopter, and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance both of which were already scheduled in for annual maintenance inspections lasting approximately three weeks.

Whilst these aircraft are undergoing maintenance, they are replaced as usual with relief helicopters provided by SAS as well as using mutual aid from neighbouring police and air ambulance services.

The return to service of the fleet follows an incident on Sunday when the London Air Ambulance made an emergency landing at its base following a mechanical failure.

About Specialist Aviation Services

The Specialist Aviation Services Group comprises Police Aviation Services Ltd and Medical Aviation Services Ltd. The Gloucestershire based group specialises in Emergency Services Air Support and amongst a fleet of over 30 aircraft, it operates and maintains approximately 20 Explorers in the UK.

For more information visit: www.specialist-aviation.com , or contact:

Nigel Lemon

Sales Director

Specialist Aviation Services Ltd

Tel:            +44 (0)1452 857900

Email: nlemon@specialist-aviation.com