PARIS 2009: AirKnight opens the SAR-H door | Shephard Group
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PARIS 2009: AirKnight opens the SAR-H door
June 16, 2009
The sealed door closing off the UK's SAR-H procurement programme from prying eyes was left slightly ajar after the AirKnight consortium made its first 'official' public statements about the bid.
The consortium, led by Lockheed Martin with partners VT and British International Helicopters (BIH) used the Paris Air Show to reveal it had submitted its final technical solution to the joint Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport project team and to talk about their choice of helicopter, the EC225, but the company did not let on about the form their solution would take.
Bid director, Tom Gordon was however keen to point out that the consortia had the formidable financing might of Lockheed Martin behind it while partners VT and BIH had already had long experience in the provision of Public Finance Initiatives.
Under current SAR-H plans, the new helicopters would be introduced from 2012 with the entire SAR-H enterprise fully operational by 2017, with the contract due to end in 2037. Potentially the contract could last as long as 32 years including the phase out period after 2037. Among the SAR-H contract demands is that the bidders retain use of the 12 SAR bases around the UK while the Falklands base is 'optional'.
Although it is understood that both bidders have included the Falklands in their plans.
Mr Gordon told Rotorhub.com that the consortia had used computer models to find the best model for the bid, and had drawn in experience from SAR operators, while the consortia bid team had evaluated a number of different aircraft, but the 225, was 'an unrivalled offering' he said.
AirKnight says it is continuing to advance its proposals in preparation for the final financial and commercial proposals, which are due later in the year.
A final decision from the SAR-H team is expected towards the end of 2009.
By Tony Osborne - Rotorhub.com Editorial Team, Paris