Rotorhub 
SAR-H first, then the world
Soteria, one of the bidders in the UK's SAR-H programme says its bid has global implications.
Keith Mullett, managing director of CHC's European Operations and chairman of the steering committee of the consortium, formed by CHC, Thales and the Royal Bank of Scotland told journalists in London on Tuesday, "We have designed this as a global solution."
"We can see governments adopting commercial companies for services like the SAR-H model. It is being watched by other nations worldwide," he added.
The company, like fellow bidder Airknight, recently submitted its final technical solution to the joint Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport project team in June and has to submit one more document before the preferred bidder is announced towards the end of the year.
Although it would not discuss its full plan because of the process of 'competitive dialogue' under which both bidders are working to, the company spoke about its aircraft of choice, the Sikorsky S-92 which is already in operation under CHC's interim SAR contract operations in Stornoway and Sumbergh.
If the company is chosen as the preferred bidder, aircraft would be delivered from existing orders already placed by CHC but would be fitted out with an updated equipment fit including a new design of auxillary fuel tank, a new mission system, and new type of searchlight.
The company is also expecting an increase in the maximum take-off weight to around 27,400 lbs.
Originally, the company had been looking at a mixed fleet of S-92s and AW139s, but this changed when the SAR-H specifications were adjusted last year. Originally the contract specified the carriage of four rescuees or two on stretchers, but this was subtly changed to four rescuees or two rescuees and two stretchers. Soteria says computer models showed the 139 could be configured for this but a one-type fleet of S-92s was the better option.
The SAR-H contract demands that everyone of the 12 SAR bases around the UK is retained. The SAR-H service delivery has to have the ability to respond to 12 separate but concurrent incidents and have a 98% readiness availability.
Aircraft have to launch within 15 minutes during the day, within 45 minutes at night. The aircraft have to be able to reach all 'Very High Risk Areas' and 75% of 'Medium Risk Areas' within 60 minutes, the service also has to have the ability to surge aircraft when required.
Coverage of the Falklands is optional, but both bidders have included the islands in their bids. There, the SAR-H contract demands that helicopters have to be able to react in 15 minutes during the day and within an hour at night. The SAR-H aircraft may also be expected to carry out other missions for the British forces based there.
Email this to a friend.
