Sweden private SAR company "nationalised"

[lowfat]

Reporting on "Helihub" that the Swedish government has taken over there privitised SAR company......

I wonder if any body in the UK is paying attention.

[Thomas coupling]

".....On Tuesday, 1 November, the Swedish Maritime Administration will take over the operational responsibility for the search and rescue helicopters in Sweden. The take-over will be executed through a governmental acquisition of all the stocks in Norrlandsflyg’s parent company Scandinavian Helicopter Invest (SHI) through the national Maritime Administration.


The acquisition is made in order to ensure an available nationwide search and rescue service, both financially and operationally. The decision has been made on the fact that the current operator, Norrlandsflyg, has been dealing with financial difficulties the past year, and that there is no real market for procuring these kinds of services.

The take-over requires a parliamentary approval, which was gained today by an unanimous assembly.

The deal secures three critical elements in the operation - the rescue helicopters, the permits to conduct the air service and the unique competence rooted in Norrlandsflyg’s personnel.

Norrlandsflyg has performed civil search and rescue (SAR) operations from 2002, following the first steps in the retirement of military rescue operations. It operates a large fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters from six bases throughout Sweden - five SAR stations and one EMS (ambulance) base. The company, which has its main office in Gothenburg, employs a staff of approx. 120 persons....."

[lowfat]

No comments from the UKSAR brigade?

This is exactly the reason why Civil SAR doesn't work......

Government ends up picking up the pieces when it all goes to pot.

[pasptoo]

This is exactly the reason why Civil SAR doesn't work......

Confused?......haven't Bristows and CHC been doing this for the last 27 years? surely something must work.

As it is under contract to the DfT (MCA ) surely the government (CAA) has some control of Civil SAR ?

Always good though for the next round of heated debate from all the usual players.......In Coming

[Sanus]

Bristow & CHC have made it work very well. But Norrlandsflyg in Sweden are a stand alone SAR provider and unlike the UK had no benefit from a similar infrastructure and support of large offshore operations like those in Aberdeen. I wonder if the SAR ops of either Bristow or CHC could have been successful without the stores, engineering and flight ops backup of Aberdeen?

[Tallsar]

Usual suspect incoming... The point about wider underpinnings for any commercial construct delivering SAR is very pertinent. Ownership politics also played it's part in Sweden, just as it has in the UK... albeit from different perspectives.

[Manchester]

Is it me, or is every sentence of that post incomprehensible?

[newfieboy]

Manchester,

Nope you're not alone, I'm also of the 'haven't got a clue what the f##k you're on about brigade'. We got a DOM that sends us emails similar, oh what joy to try decipher them, then get bitched at cos ya didn't respond....

[Night Watchman]

The point about wider underpinnings for any commercial construct delivering SAR is very pertinent. Ownership politics also played it's part in Sweden, just as it has in the UK... albeit from different perspectives.

Absolutely agree with you Tallsar.

In the UK, SAR has benefited from private investment and you'll note that the privately run SAR flights are cheaper with have a better servicability record than their military counterparts and have all the new equipment and aircraft.

The military are stuck with old outdated helicopters, huge bureaucracy and at a much higher cost to the taxpayer. Unfortunately in these times of budget failings at the MOD there doesn't appear to be much hope of a future for military SAR in the UK.