First SAR AW139 On Line

[SARowl]

BBC News

New helicopter's first sea rescue


The new coastguard helicopter can fly further and faster than its predecessor
Portland Coastguard's brand new search and rescue helicopter was put to work on its first day in the job.
The Augusta Westland 139 arrived in the morning and by 1510 BST it was on its way to its first sea rescue operation.
It was called to the Cutlass dive boat in Portland Harbour after a diver had suffered a rapid ascent.
The man was winched up into the helicopter, flown to Poole and transferred to the decompression chamber in the town.
During the rescue the coastguards arranged contact between the dive boat and a specialist dive doctor who recommended that the man be airlifted to the recompression chamber immediately.
Allan Norman, Portland Coastguard watch manager, said: "The new helicopter is a fantastic development in our ability to deliver a search and rescue service along the UK coastline.
"It has the ability to fly further and faster than its predecessor and we anticipate many more successful rescues which will prove its operational effectiveness and utilise the range of advanced technology it has on board."

[Role1a]

To quote someone else;

Don't do it Crabb

Don't

[Wiretensioner]

He will, He will!!

[leopold bloom]

Further and faster

He won't be able to resist. Nice aircraft though.

[Role1a]

Not that your biased LB.

[ninefromten]

Nice looking cab with all the latest technology but showing on the tote as restricted ops due to no auto hover!!

[Vie sans frontieres]

...and off-line again, because it's 9-o-clock and time to go home. Easy life for some! Living on borrowed time guys, living on borrowed time. Enjoy Portland while you can!

[3D CAM]

The old and the new!



G-BDIJ, the last Bristow operated UK SAR S61, on the way to Den Helder.



The last??? S61 out of Portland.




G-BBVA, on the way to who knows what??

Not a dry eye in the house!!

Go on Crab, this is not the day!!!

VSF

Don't hold your breath! On second thoughts, please do!!

[jhiles]

I feel extra special now knowing it was it's first day....saw it fly beneath me whilst flying along the south coast earlier, looking very impressive

[3D CAM]

Senior Pilot
Thanks for sorting it out. I was getting my thong in a right turmoil with the piccies!
It must be the emotion of the day.
3D

[Oldlae]

I'm sure that the 139 was over Exeter earlier today.

[maxvne]

There is an AW139 on the isle of man reg in the private cat that has auto hover installed surely the SAR heli should have it

[Lt.Fubar]

Originally Posted by ninefromten

Nice looking cab with all the latest technology but showing on the tote as restricted ops due to no auto hover!!

You do know some people out there still do it "the hard way"

[heli1]

Sad to see the S61Ns go...have they gone into storage or being shipped to the US ?
I gather the Helicopter Museum was keen to save one for display but the new Bristow management turned them down...ruddy bean counters..got no respect for history !

[TomBola]

I was interested to see that the BBC website claims that the new aircraft has greater range than the old. Is that really the case? I'd be amazed if the AW139 has more range than the S61.

[Blue Rotor Ronin]

aw139

Hey 3d cam, Jc still fuming?!!! put those pics up!

139 is a poodle in a pitbull's collar. The piffle that will follow the MCA's aeronautical self congratulations will sicken me as I know those "it's 9-o-clock and time to go home. Easy life for some!" fellas will be working hard to make the best of a blinged up donkey's arse. Oh and ps: Rather work a 24hr shift than a 12hr shift at Portland, they work more hours per month.

[[email protected]]

Actually, I waved at the other CG139 as it flew past Chivenor today, very shiny and fast

As for the Portland cab, why exactly is it limsar with no autohover? Seems awfully strange for a brand new all singing and dancing SAR aircraft.

[3D CAM]

Blue
Do I know you?
Crab.

Actually, I waved at the other CG139 as it flew past Chivenor today, very shiny and fast

Just how many fingers did you wave?
Probably seeing how long between Portland and Chiv. ready for the summer when you are off line. South Wales here we come?
I can't tell you why no auto hover, Crabette will ream me out again, so will just get on with it until it is sorted. (That is why Portland were first with the machine. No night flying, and don't fly in cp weather.)
3D

[[email protected]]

3D - I waved all 6 fingers - I have been in Devon too long perhaps

I guess they were just checking how long it would take us to get down to the Portland patch when it's dark or the weather is bad I think it ran out of fuel before it got to South Wales!!!

Checkout the Sun Page 4 if you want to see what real SARboys get up to!

[Tractor_Driver]

Sun, page 4?

I thought that they usually put the t1ts on page 3