Bristow Sumburgh - End Of An Era
Thread Starter
Been given this picture from VC, who advises it was a "Tea Party, following HMS Albion 848 Squadron's celebrations after winning the Rugby and the Football Cups at HMS Terror, Singapore circa 1968"
Sumburgh regulars will immediately spot our "gone but not forgotten" chum, Billy Deacon (who hardly changed a bit over the years), but we think there is another old Sumburgh hand, lurking in the background, can you spot him??
Edit - Well, did you spot a very youthful Pete Mesney, skulking farthest left, pint in hand ?
Sumburgh regulars will immediately spot our "gone but not forgotten" chum, Billy Deacon (who hardly changed a bit over the years), but we think there is another old Sumburgh hand, lurking in the background, can you spot him??
Edit - Well, did you spot a very youthful Pete Mesney, skulking farthest left, pint in hand ?Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 20:19.
Thread Starter
Picture by prestwick001
Pictured after unloading from the AN-124 at Prestwick, 22 Jan 2013 - The start of a New Era at Sumburgh begins... and if I am not mistaken, is that Chris fast asleep in the back (as usual)
Thread Starter
New rescue helicopters arrive at Sumburgh
May 11th, 2013 by Shetland Times
Three state of the art helicopters arrived at Sumburgh airport today in preparation for Bristow Helicopters taking over the search and rescue contract.
Bristow will take over the responsibility for Northern Scotland in June on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Two of its Sikorsky S-92 aircraft will be permanently based at Sumburgh while two will be based at Stornoway.
The arrival of the helicopters in Shetland this afternoon follows three months of training which were carried out at Inverness airport where they have been training for a variety of potential scenarios and operating in a number of areas away from the airport.
Bristow Helicopter’s European business director Mike Imlach, said: “With training complete we are fully prepared to begin operations of the Gap search and rescue service in Northern Scotland, and we look forward to operations commencing on 1 June from Sumburgh.”
Sumburgh Airport manager Nigel Flaws said: “Sumburgh Airport is proud to be part of the UK’s Search and Rescue network and we are delighted to welcome the Bristow team to Shetland. We wish them well as they prepare to embark on a new phase of operations from Sumburgh. Their work is of vital importance to communities across the Northern Isles.”
More information and photographs in next week’s Shetland Times.
Pictures by Beenister
May 11th, 2013 by Shetland Times
Three state of the art helicopters arrived at Sumburgh airport today in preparation for Bristow Helicopters taking over the search and rescue contract.
Bristow will take over the responsibility for Northern Scotland in June on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Two of its Sikorsky S-92 aircraft will be permanently based at Sumburgh while two will be based at Stornoway.
The arrival of the helicopters in Shetland this afternoon follows three months of training which were carried out at Inverness airport where they have been training for a variety of potential scenarios and operating in a number of areas away from the airport.
Bristow Helicopter’s European business director Mike Imlach, said: “With training complete we are fully prepared to begin operations of the Gap search and rescue service in Northern Scotland, and we look forward to operations commencing on 1 June from Sumburgh.”
Sumburgh Airport manager Nigel Flaws said: “Sumburgh Airport is proud to be part of the UK’s Search and Rescue network and we are delighted to welcome the Bristow team to Shetland. We wish them well as they prepare to embark on a new phase of operations from Sumburgh. Their work is of vital importance to communities across the Northern Isles.”
More information and photographs in next week’s Shetland Times.
Pictures by Beenister
Last edited by S61-S92; 27th Oct 2019 at 12:50.
Scrappy formation flying in but excellent tail rotor synchronisation just before shutdown.
Good to see BHL back in Sumburgh!
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The 185 Radial
'Bristow Rover' 17th May 1990
nae chocks, nae fire extinguisher, nae high vis - how did we cope??!!
Think that's me putting the fuel cap back on the rear tank - one week after I started at Sumburgh (trained by Jack 'Pundie' ) still there now
Bristow Rover still there too..
Daily visits from 72A, 40A, 74A, 51A, 75A... good old days
'Bristow Rover' 17th May 1990
nae chocks, nae fire extinguisher, nae high vis - how did we cope??!!
Think that's me putting the fuel cap back on the rear tank - one week after I started at Sumburgh (trained by Jack 'Pundie' ) still there now
Bristow Rover still there too..Daily visits from 72A, 40A, 74A, 51A, 75A... good old days
Last edited by tascats; 10th Jul 2013 at 09:02.
Amazing how small those Puma passenger windows look compared with what they have now - must have been very unpleasant in the back. And I guess they were not pop-outs either
Thread Starter
December 2013 sees the 30th Anniversary of the formation of the full time civilian Search and Rescue Contract at Sumburgh ... 30 YEARS
Now operating with new aircraft, new faces (some old, some VERY old) and in a "new" hangar, if you have any pictures from days gone by at Sumburgh SAR, please post them here.
Last edited by S61-S92; 27th Oct 2019 at 12:51.
Bristow celebrates 30 years of SAR from Sumburgh
HeliHub: 30 Years of SAR at Sumburgh
Bristow World: UK SAR Special Edition
HeliHub: 1st December, 2013
On Saturday, November 30, Bristow celebrates its contribution to achieving a significant milestone -30 years of delivering search and rescue (SAR) services from Sumburgh on behalf of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Bristow crew members past and present, the MCA, Sikorsky and representatives of local search and rescue operational partner organizations will gather at the SAR base at Sumburgh Airport to mark the anniversary.
Richard Parkes, Director of Maritime Operations at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), will present a Coastguard Meritorious Award to the base. A letter of commendation from Sergei Sikorsky and an award will be presented by Sikorsky. Bristow will present individual Operational Excellence Awards. Member of Parliament Stephen Hammond has sent a videotaped message, as has Bristow Group President and CEO Bill Chiles and Bristow Helicopters Managing Director Mike Imlach.
Chris Bond, now with Bristow Q&S Global Standards, was at Sumburgh at the beginning when Bristow began delivering SAR, going back 37 years. As chief crewman, in fact, Bond helped set up SAR operations in Sumburgh in 1983. He commented on the history of Bristow in delivering SAR services in Bristow.
“There is no better way to help our fellow man. I can’t emphasize enough the enthusiasm and commitment of the people that work in the SAR community. There are people at Sumburgh and Stornoway that have been there since the beginning. There was one young fellow I remember at Sumburgh -it was Kieran Murray Junior -- that I was pushing on swings with my kids when he was five years old, and he is now a SAR commander. These are dedicated people who have created an amazing unit and their whole lives revolve around their work."
On Saturday, November 30, Bristow celebrates its contribution to achieving a significant milestone -30 years of delivering search and rescue (SAR) services from Sumburgh on behalf of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Bristow crew members past and present, the MCA, Sikorsky and representatives of local search and rescue operational partner organizations will gather at the SAR base at Sumburgh Airport to mark the anniversary.
Richard Parkes, Director of Maritime Operations at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), will present a Coastguard Meritorious Award to the base. A letter of commendation from Sergei Sikorsky and an award will be presented by Sikorsky. Bristow will present individual Operational Excellence Awards. Member of Parliament Stephen Hammond has sent a videotaped message, as has Bristow Group President and CEO Bill Chiles and Bristow Helicopters Managing Director Mike Imlach.
Chris Bond, now with Bristow Q&S Global Standards, was at Sumburgh at the beginning when Bristow began delivering SAR, going back 37 years. As chief crewman, in fact, Bond helped set up SAR operations in Sumburgh in 1983. He commented on the history of Bristow in delivering SAR services in Bristow.
“There is no better way to help our fellow man. I can’t emphasize enough the enthusiasm and commitment of the people that work in the SAR community. There are people at Sumburgh and Stornoway that have been there since the beginning. There was one young fellow I remember at Sumburgh -it was Kieran Murray Junior -- that I was pushing on swings with my kids when he was five years old, and he is now a SAR commander. These are dedicated people who have created an amazing unit and their whole lives revolve around their work."
Bristow World: UK SAR Special Edition
Bristow began MCA SAR operations in 1974? At Manston.......that's how the 30 years adds up.No one said it was continuous and Bristow themselves didn't say it was all at Sumburgh.
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Two Whirlwinds were based at RAF Manston from June 1971, G-AYTK and AYNP. Kicked off by Tony Bates and Lee Smith they provided Dover Straits cover for about 3 years.