The first Yeovil-built AW189, s/n 92001, was originally an SAR aircraft, G-MCGN on the UK SAR contract. A couple of weeks ago it was re-registered as G-CJNV and has appeared in O&G guise at Aberdeen. The latest Bristow earnings report also indicates a change in the financial provision for buying AW189 SAR aircraft for the UK SAR contract.
Of the six remaining AW189 SAR, only three are registered to BHL and the other three still AW/Leonardo.
Lee-on-Solent work-up soon followed shortly thereafter by Prestwick (two per base) so presumably another handover is due soon.
By this strange twist, Yeovil has produced a helicopter for a normal commercial operation. Whoa, scary!
Funny old world.