News
Milesone for CHC Search and Rescue

Sept. 17, 2010, Vancouver – CHC Helicopter has marked a significant
milestone in its SAR services with crews in the UK and Australia both
undertaking their 2,000th missions.

CHC has operated the service for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the UK since 2007 from four bases at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Lee on Solent and Portland. Through its membership of the Soteria consortium, it has been identified as the preferred bidder on the UK SAR-H program, a 25-year contract to provide helicopter-based SAR services from 12 bases throughout the UK.

The company was also recently awarded a 10-year, EUR 500 million contract to provide SAR services on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard from 2012 onwards. CHC already provides SAR services from bases at Waterford, Dublin, Shannon and Sligo but the new contract will see the existing fleet of S-61N aircraft replaced with new technology Sikorsky S-92A helicopters that are custom fitted for SAR work.

The 2,000th mission in the UK was a medical evacuation carried out by the Stornoway team in an S-92 aircraft. Western Australia's life saving emergency rescue helicopter service, RAC Rescue, completed its 2,000th mission on September 10.

Tilmann Gabriel, President of CHC Europe, said: "We operate one of the world's largest civilian networks of SAR, emergency medical and humanitarian helicopter services. Our aircraft are among the most modern in the world and our crews trained to the highest international standards. Our goal is constant improvement to services that save lives and it is a significant achievement that our investment in new technology to deliver safe, reliable performance is delivering results on both sides of the world.

"It doesn't matter if the required service is land-based or covers maritime areas, if the mission profile is clifftop rescue or abandonment of a stricken vessel in heavy seas – we can adapt our capabilities to meet the remit, every time."