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News

New MCA Search & Rescue Helicopter Contract

01 Jan 2006

The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency last month awarded a five year interim contract for the provision of Coastguard search and rescue helicopter services to CHC Scotia. The contract provides for commercial SAR helicopter from civilian operated bases at Sumburgh, Stornoway, Lee-on-Solent, and Portland, running for a five year period from 1 July 2007.

An artists impression of how a Sikorsky S92 helicopter will look in Coastguard livery.

The service will operate on a 24/7 basis at Sumburgh, Stornoway and Lee-on-Solent and on a 12 hour daytime basis at Portland, in line with current cover.

The aircraft to be deployed for the contract are the Sikorsky S92 and the Agusta Bell AB139. There will be two S92s based at Stornoway and two at Sumburgh, with two AB139s based at Lee-on-Solent and one at Portland.

The new aircraft will be fitted with advanced technical equipment including an on board automatic identification system. CHC's contract project leader Steve Duffy said, 'These aircraft will be able to fly faster and further than those currently in use.

Beyond these advantages they will also deploy a range of new technological assets to maximise their effectiveness in search and rescue work.'

MJ Information No: 21427

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