Heliport
30th Nov 2001, 10:17
from the Portsmouth News.....
COASTGUARDS look likely to keep their helicopter by the Solent as defence chiefs revealed they can stay at their base.
Senior naval base bosses say they are close to clinching a deal which will keep rescue helicopter India Juliet and her back-up at the former naval air base at the Daedalus airfield in Lee-on-the-Solent.
The deal brings to an end five years of uncertainty caused by Whitehall dithering about the future of the old airfield.
The base is now likely to remain in MoD hands, rather than be sold to developers - which should guarantee the future of India Juliet for the long term.
The helicopter is responsible for the Solent and the Channel between Dorset and East Sussex, but the coastguards' lease on Daedalus runs out next July.
But after a meeting between coastguard and defence estate bosses last week, it is likely that the search-and-rescue service will stay - with a new rescue centre.
Coastguard chiefs are likely to spend upwards of £1m on new facilities for their helicopters, and the aircrafts' crew - the aircraft are housed in an old Fleet Air Arm hangar, the men and women in a wartime vintage Nissen hut.
COASTGUARDS look likely to keep their helicopter by the Solent as defence chiefs revealed they can stay at their base.
Senior naval base bosses say they are close to clinching a deal which will keep rescue helicopter India Juliet and her back-up at the former naval air base at the Daedalus airfield in Lee-on-the-Solent.
The deal brings to an end five years of uncertainty caused by Whitehall dithering about the future of the old airfield.
The base is now likely to remain in MoD hands, rather than be sold to developers - which should guarantee the future of India Juliet for the long term.
The helicopter is responsible for the Solent and the Channel between Dorset and East Sussex, but the coastguards' lease on Daedalus runs out next July.
But after a meeting between coastguard and defence estate bosses last week, it is likely that the search-and-rescue service will stay - with a new rescue centre.
Coastguard chiefs are likely to spend upwards of £1m on new facilities for their helicopters, and the aircrafts' crew - the aircraft are housed in an old Fleet Air Arm hangar, the men and women in a wartime vintage Nissen hut.