Eastern is a Bristow subsidiary. They
have been engaged in flights
between the major oil and gas
centres around the north sea and
also ferry flights in support of crew-
change helicopter flights. Since the
bottom has fallen out of that market,
this may well be an ideal time to go
looking for an aircraft of a certain
size in eastern England.
A small fleet of Cessna 400 are
operated by Reconnaissance
Ventures Ltd under the HM
Coastguard brand for MCA Aviation
as part of their pollution control
operations. Since 2010, we have been
told that the Cessnas are also one of
the options for SAR top cover. The
Jetstream appears to be an
experiment in expanding the role of
SAR top cover from its current low
base level. This is happening at the
same time as our friends in the Royal
Air Force are engaging with their
friends in the United States Navy to
prepare for the introduction of nine
Boeing P8 Poseidon maritime patrol
aircraft. As I write this, ex-Nimrod
aircrew in all corners of the Empire
are experiencing itchy feet in their
earth-bound roles.
So, it may be that in the north and
west, we may have to wait for old
friends to come and watch over us
from above (!) while in the south and
east the Jetstream will soon be out
there doing some part of that role.
"Constant Endeavour"