Wasting millions

[Das_Boot]

Helicopters flying around for no reason BBC making a programme (cant quite remember the name) something to do with seaside rescue. I want my license money back. The only rescue was on a hill side. Life boat launched for no reason, just to take a look. Cant I sue someone for missrepresentation how can I retrieve the time I spent watching that nonsense.

 

[Deleted member 478]

Do what Becky did.

 

[Das_Boot]

Its not just the license money it is the waste of fuel etc etc used on these, what looks like, jaunts.

 

[Roy]

Whinging again??? -call em on the VHF!

 

[Das_Boot]

Arent forums for whinging. Maybe Im missing something. Nobody listens on the bloody VHF where have you been havent you seen the posts.

 

[BrendanS]

There was a thread on this subject a while back which discussed the fact that the helicopter crew have to fly every shift anyway, so not as much wasted as you might imagine

click here

 

[Das_Boot]

I missed that post otherwise I would have added my pennys worth. I am glad I am not the only one who is completely mistified by the mindset. I think rescueing the woman on the beach by helicopter was amazing the ambulance crew in my mind were too lazy to carry her to the road. Anyway the subject has been flogged to death.

 

[wooslehunter]

A lot of the time when you see the helecopters buzzing around, you could argue that they are just out for a jolly since they are not actually on a rescue job.

Under the coastguard contract Bristows who run the helecopters have a number of hours allowed every month for training so they'll fly those even if they get no jobs.

The point is that the hours would probably have been flown even if they didn't have a film crew on board.

 

[Das_Boot]

And a completely useless film crew at that. Perhaps I am unkind I should say producer.

 

[starboard]

After spending 15 years with the RNLI, laterly as an offshore lifeboat Coxswain I thought it was a true representation of the rescue service's. I know at times it seems overkill on certain job's to send the helo but at the time of the initial call the coastguard have to react on the information they recieve. As a lifeboat Coxswain I would always have preffered to launch to an incident and found I was not needed than not to launch to things had become out of control and made an easy job difficult. At my home station the crew train twice a week but there is no better training to be used on a real task no matter how routine it may seem.

As for your licence money I can only assume your TV has an off button!! and should the [censored] hit the fan when your next at sea the coastguard react in the way you would expect.

Next time suggest you watch Coronation Street

Paul.

 

[BrendanS]

Why? I thought the series was extremely good, though maybe this weeks wasn't as exciting as some of them

 

[Roy]

I have seen your posts - whinging and the VHF comment was specific for you.

 

[Das_Boot]

roy it seems you are whinging what do you do for fun turn on ch16 and listen to the static.
And please read my previous post specific to you.
Here it is word for word you will find it directly below you first post on this subject.

''Arent forums for whinging. Maybe Im missing something. Nobody listens on the bloody VHF where have you been havent you seen the posts. ''


Starboard I have nothing against the RNLI crews training or the helicopter crews for that matter. But if that is what the programme is about why not call it Sea Rescue Training.

BrendanS perhaps I caught the one lousy one.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
I have nothing against the RNLI crews training or the helicopter crews for that matter. But if that is what the programme is about why not call it Sea Rescue Training.



[/ QUOTE ]

Shame someone wasn't having a real, life-threatening, terrifying emergency on the filming day. I think that's what you're saying

 

[ShipsWoofy]

When I was with the RNLI we worked twice with television crews. Once with Granada Reports and the other time during an episode of Watching, the one where they drifted out to sea on a little sail boat, some might remember it.

Other than the fact they were the most boring drawn out days I have ever experienced, 16 hours for 2 minutes footage. I do know that the television companies fed us all and made quite substantial donations to the institution.

The best bit I guess was when the director started making the odd demand about where the crew should be, how we should launch etc. I don't think he was prepared for the response.

How can it be wasted, it brings awareness. The likes of seaside rescue from what I saw (I missed many), was interlaced with valuable lessons, who to call, how to call, when to call. There was also quite valuable information to us in boats about receiving a winch man on the deck.

I wish rescue 122 would pin point me as I think we would have to have a foredeck landing which is generally not done and I will feel privileged to practise this with them. I would also be interested to know how a smaller cruising cat would react to the downdraft, though, maybe I wouldn't /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[kds]

You have obviously forgotten just how wonderful TV was in good old RSA ? Did you watch the English or the Afrikaans hours ? Or both ?
Ken