The aircraft
in red and white HM Coastguard livery are set to become a familiar sight
in the skies across the south west. They are equipped with the latest
search and rescue technology including night vision, mission management
and increased onboard medical capabilities.
Bristow Helicopters’ crews are already at the base carrying out
the final preparations for the service going live and will spend the
next couple of months training in the area.
Samantha Willenbacher, director of UK search and rescue at Bristow Helicopters,
said: “The arrival of the S92 at its new home in Newquay is an
exciting milestone for us as we prepare to begin operations in January.
The crews all feel privileged to be delivering this vital public service
and are eager to get started.
“The training programme which we will be working through over
the next couple of months is an essential part of preparations. It will
involve night-time missions and some short periods of high activity
levels. We will make every effort to minimise the disturbance to the
local community and thank them in advance for their patience and support
as we deliver this lifesaving service.”
The SAR helicopter base at Newquay Airport is one of ten bases from
which the UK SAR contract will be delivered, five of which are already
live. Operations started in April 2015 from bases at Humberside and
Inverness Airports, in July at Caernarfon Airport, at Lydd in August
and at St Athan in October. A further base at Prestwick Airport will
go live alongside Newquay in January 2016.
The final three bases are existing HM Coastguard facilities at Lee-on-Solent,
Stornoway and Sumburgh, which will transition to the new contract in
2017. Bristow Helicopters already operates the SAR helicopter service
from Sumburgh and Stornoway. |
