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Coastguard S-92s return to operations
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has resumed SAR operations with its four Sikorsky S-92s after being grounded at the weekend over safety concerns.
In a statement, CHC who operate the four aircraft on the interim contract out of Stornoway and Sumburgh said:
Operational cover has now resumed at the coastguard helicopter bases at Stornoway and Sumburgh after urgent modifications work to the S92 aircraft deployed there.
Helicopter operator CHC operates four search and rescue S92 aircraft, two at each base, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The modification work has been ongoing on the aircraft over the weekend after CHC was informed on Friday (March 20) by manufacturer Sikorsky that the work was required on all S92s globally prior to any further flying activity.
CHC's UK search and rescue manager Ian McLuskie said: "We have been able to bring the aircraft back into operational use so quickly thanks to a huge effort by our personnel and other parties.
"It was recognised that minimising the time the SAR S92s were not available for operational use was a key priority and it is good to see the plan that was put in place to achieve that has proved successful."
CHC liaised closely with the MCA to co-ordinate contingency cover for SAR operations meantime from Royal Navy and RAF bases as well as offshore-based SAR operations while the modifications were undertaken.
The required modifications work affected all S92s operated globally and is not unique to CHC.
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