sapper
19th Feb 2008, 13:23
The boys are doing well
COASTGUARD HELICOPTERS REACH MISSION MILESTONE
New helicopters introduced to provide search and rescue (SAR) services for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at its two SAR bases in Scotland have reached a mission milestone.
The new-technology Sikorsky S92 aircraft based at Stornoway and Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, have now undertaken a total of 50 SAR operational missions since their phased introduction began last October under a new contract operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation.
Some of their tasks to date have included the rescue of 14 fishermen from a Spanish fishing vessel after it ran aground in heavy seas on St Kilda in January, involvement in the down manning of the Safe Scandinavia accommodation platform in the North Sea earlier this month, and the evacuation of an injured fisherman from a vessel 240 nautical miles west of the Butt of Lewis.
Two S92s are now based at both Stornoway and Sumburgh as part of a CHC-operated contract, which involves introducing new-technology aircraft at all four coastguard SAR bases around the UK.
They chalked up their 50th mission when the Sumburgh helicopter undertook a medical evacuation of a crewmember from a rig standby vessel 116 nautical miles from the Shetland Islands.
Dave Jardine-Smith, Head of Search and Rescue, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said:
The St Kilda rescue, performed in atrocious weather and sea conditions, represented the biggest challenge to the new service to date, but its important to remember that the crews involved are regularly undertaking rescue operations in a variety of circumstances.
For the most part they have involved the medical evacuation of people from vessels or land, with the professionalism and expertise of the crews, and the technological capabilities of the aircraft, routinely apparent in such operations.
Its good to see the new service developing a proven and successful track record in what is often an extremely hostile operating environment, and well continue to work closely with our partners to maintain helicopter operations as a leading-edge service.
The contract awarded to CHC by the MCA will also see new aircraft, the AW139, introduced at the MCAs two other SAR bases, at Lee-on-Solent and Portland on the south coast of England, over the coming months. The interim contract runs until 2012.
spr
COASTGUARD HELICOPTERS REACH MISSION MILESTONE
New helicopters introduced to provide search and rescue (SAR) services for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at its two SAR bases in Scotland have reached a mission milestone.
The new-technology Sikorsky S92 aircraft based at Stornoway and Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, have now undertaken a total of 50 SAR operational missions since their phased introduction began last October under a new contract operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation.
Some of their tasks to date have included the rescue of 14 fishermen from a Spanish fishing vessel after it ran aground in heavy seas on St Kilda in January, involvement in the down manning of the Safe Scandinavia accommodation platform in the North Sea earlier this month, and the evacuation of an injured fisherman from a vessel 240 nautical miles west of the Butt of Lewis.
Two S92s are now based at both Stornoway and Sumburgh as part of a CHC-operated contract, which involves introducing new-technology aircraft at all four coastguard SAR bases around the UK.
They chalked up their 50th mission when the Sumburgh helicopter undertook a medical evacuation of a crewmember from a rig standby vessel 116 nautical miles from the Shetland Islands.
Dave Jardine-Smith, Head of Search and Rescue, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said:
The St Kilda rescue, performed in atrocious weather and sea conditions, represented the biggest challenge to the new service to date, but its important to remember that the crews involved are regularly undertaking rescue operations in a variety of circumstances.
For the most part they have involved the medical evacuation of people from vessels or land, with the professionalism and expertise of the crews, and the technological capabilities of the aircraft, routinely apparent in such operations.
Its good to see the new service developing a proven and successful track record in what is often an extremely hostile operating environment, and well continue to work closely with our partners to maintain helicopter operations as a leading-edge service.
The contract awarded to CHC by the MCA will also see new aircraft, the AW139, introduced at the MCAs two other SAR bases, at Lee-on-Solent and Portland on the south coast of England, over the coming months. The interim contract runs until 2012.
spr