Carsonised S-61Ns sounds right...AW189s sounds Bristow.

AW189s sounds like Bristow
 

More like "AW189s sound optimistic" given the Apr 2016 in-service date:)

Falklands
 

Inputshaft & Crab,

You repeatedly suggest that the Bristow Falklands contract is a different contract from a Falklands SAR contract ? however, the first Bristow S92 has been reported on its way via Southampton Docks, the second machine is reportedly a spare in interim Coastguard colours with Bristow titles, the third machine reportedly a full time SAR machine.

Can you substantiate your comments please ?

The Bristow one is an oil exploration contract which has to provide its own SAR cover for transporting pax to and from the rigs; they operate out of Stanley airport.

The other is an Falklands-wide passenger and freight transport for the FI government which has been provided by Brintel (part of BIH) for many years; they operate out of Mount Pleasant Airfield.

The SAR contract is new because the RAF Sea Kings that have provided this function (primarily for the recovery of fast jet crews) are going out of service shortly and, along with UK SAR, is being civilianised.

Sensibly, the FISHSAR (Falkland Islands Support Helicopter and SAR) contract combines the two elements and will continue to operate out of Mount Pleasant.

Does that answer your question?

1Hppl

What people are trying to explain is that the oil and gas exploration contract won by Bristow will almost certainly have a SAR component within it exclusively to protect the drilling rig and the crewchange aircraft. These are likely to be the SAR capable machines to which you refer. The fact that one of them is in CG colours is likely reflective of nothing more than what aircraft were available in the Bristow fleet at the time.

Inclusion of self protecting SAR capability within an O&G exploration contract is not uncommon and has been included in previous Falklands O&G contracts too.

This SAR coverage is entirely separate from the permanent SAR contract to take over from the RAF.

welcome to the real world hppl :D

There are no aircraft heading south in CG colours. Just 2 Aberdeen machines and a spare.

LZ

Falklands
 

Crab,

Perfectly ! Tvm.

& Overthawk tvm too.

Sorry to be pedantic Crab, but while we are putting things straight, it is actually a "Falklands-wide passenger and freight transport contract for the UK Ministry of Defence", as the new contract will be.

BTW, I like your "FISHSAR" acronym, hadn't heard it referred to like that before :-)

I see the MOD have also selected AW189s for SAR and S-61s for transport, with the contract going to AAR supported by BIH.

Wonder if any of these these will be on the military register like the Griffons in Cyprus.

AAR Awarded 10-Year Search & Rescue Contract in the Falkland Islands... -- WOOD DALE, Ill., Jan. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Is it not AAR who bought out Blackwater's operations?

Finally the official announcement:

AAR has announced its airlift division has been awarded a contract by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for search and rescue (SAR) and support helicopter services in the Falkland Islands. The contract is valued at approximately $275 million (approximately £180 million).


AAR Airlift, together with British International Helicopters (BIH) and Air Rescue Systems (ARS), will provide a combined SAR and support helicopter service to the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) operations. The program will include AgustaWestland AW189 SAR helicopters, Sikorsky S-61 support helicopters, flight operations, maintenance, logistics and facilities support at the Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime region.


The mission includes all-weather SAR, helicopter emergency medical services, rescue hoist operations, passenger and cargo transfers, and night vision imaging systems. Readiness states vary from 15 minutes to 60 minutes response and require a 24/7/365 alert posture. Performance on the 10-year contract will begin in April 2016.


“This award presents a tremendous opportunity for AAR Airlift’s business as part of our strategy to diversify our capabilities and customer base,” said Randy J. Martinez, President & CEO, AAR Airlift Group. “We are thrilled that our exemplary record of safety, reliability and operational performance has earned us the confidence of the UK Ministry of Defence to deliver this critical service.”


Ian Craddock, Head of Helicopters 2 in the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support department, said: “I have every confidence that AAR Airlift has the capability and experience to provide a search and rescue service that maintains the high standards set by the Royal Air Force, who we must thank for the service they have delivered to date.


“We will work closely with AAR through the period of transition, with the RAF continuing to provide search and rescue cover until the new service starts. I am also pleased that AAR will be sub-contracting British International Helicopters, who is already successfully providing support helicopter services in the Falkland Islands, to support delivery of the combined service.”

Good news, I'm glad I wasn't given a bum steer before Christmas!

It will be interesting to see BIH/AAR's recruitment plan to man the 365/24/7 SAR crewing from 2016....that will be a large bunch of pilots and crewmen to find. Even with the North Sea slow-down getting a lot of folk type rated and ready by 2016 will be no simple job. Can it be done? What roster and pay will be on the table, I wonder? Good news for the industry however you look at it.

Is that magazine sponsored by the Argentine Government or is it a return volley for the Top Gear Patagonia Special?:E

LZ

I am reliably informed there are two Bristow liveried S92's heading South for O&G contract, one has already departed, & a spare, (G-CIHP) which has been painted in Coastguard colours & Bristow titles.

What prey tell does a Rescue Aircraft painted predominately Red & White make it an HMCG aircraft. Those colours are used world wide by many operators.

1helicopterppl - if you read earlier in the thread, you will know that the O and G contract is completely different to the FISHSAR one.

However, with the falling oil price, it will be interesting to see how long the exploration lasts in the South Atlantic since the high cost of extracting the oil was one of the reasons it hasn't been done before.

I seem to remember the OG contact was for initial 10 months with an option to extend to 2 yrs. That doesn't seem very likely in the current financial climate!

Older & wiser,

it does not make it a MCG helicopter, it's a spare to fulfil the SAR element in the O&G contract.

Crab
nothing to do with FISHSAR as you have already made quite clear, thank you !

1HP,

I stand corrected, you are spot on. HP is now in its red and white livery. When I last saw her she was pure white.

GZ is now on the island and sat in a hanger at Stanley.

LZ