Bristow wins UK SAR helicopter service

The £1.6bn contract comes into effect in April 2015 and will run until 2026, with Bristow taking over operations currently run by the RAF and Royal Navy out of eight bases around the UK while a further four bases are run by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The current 12 bases will be reduced in number to 10. Bases such as RNAS Culdrose, at Helston in Cornwall, will be moved to Newquay airport and RAF Valley on Alglesey in North Wales will move to a civilian airport at Caernarfon on the mainland. Prince William, second in line to the throne, is a military SAR pilot based at RAF Valley. The MCA run base at Portland in Dorset, which provides cover for one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, will controversially be closed.

Bristow will replace the current fleet of ageing Sea King helicopters with a fleet of 22 specially commissioned new models, Sikorsky S-92s and AugustaWestland AW189s, equipped with advanced technologies such as night vision, mission management and better on board medical capabilities. The government argues the more rapid flying times of the new fleet will result in an improved overall service.

A transition agreement with the Ministry of Defence promises continuity of service and experience for military personnel transferring to the new service. Last year Bristow was awarded the UK Gap SAR contract for Northern Scotland and, working in partnership with the MCA, will operate four SAR helicopters from Sumburgh and Stornoway beginning this summer.