Coastguard helicopters reach landmark operational date
The new search and rescue helicopters at the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) base in Stornoway in the Western Isles have completed nearly 350 missions and rescued over 260 people since they were introduced to service two years ago.
The two Sikorsky S92 aircraft and their crews have flown over 700 hours in total to undertake a wide range of maritime and land-based rescue operations since October 1 2007.
A further two S92 helicopters entered service at Sumburgh in Shetland three months later as part of the phased introduction of a new search and rescue (SAR) service by helicopter operator CHC at all MCA bases in the UK.
In total the two bases have completed nearly 550 missions and rescued 415 people, clocking up over 1,100 operational flying hours in the process. The aircraft have also recorded technical availability levels of 98%.
CHC’s UK SAR manager Ian McLuskie said: “The aircraft and their crews have forged an extremely impressive track record since they first began operating for the MCA two years ago.
“They’ve repeatedly demonstrated their capabilities across the spectrum of SAR work. The combination of the new-technology aircraft, their dedicated crews and skilled technical support has created a modern-day SAR service that we’re determined to sustain and enhance.”
The Stornoway base was called into action a record 170 times in 2008, including the courageous rescue of 14 fishermen from the fishing vessel Spinningdale which had run aground at St. Kilda – a rescue which resulted in a succession of prestigious awards for the crew and base.
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