Two of the new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, run by the Maritime and Coastgiard Agency and configured entirely for search and rescue (SAR), have already arrived at Portland and Lee-on-the-Solent. The third machine will also operate from Lee-on-the-Solent, covering a busy operational area.
The helicopters have been provided as part of an agreement under which the MCA runs SAR services from Portland, Lee-on-the-Solent, Sumburgh and Stornoway. Machines are being supplied by the air operations contractor CHC Helicopters for a five-year period which started in July 2007.
The AW139 has a top speed of 150 knots. It can stay in the air for 3hr 20min at its most economical cruise speed, or for 2hr 43min at high cruise speed. It provides an 'excellent visual search platform', and a winch-up speed 40 per cent quicker than before.
The Portland machine carried out its first operation, a diving-related rescue, on 8 April. A diver who had made a rapid ascent was taken off the dive boat Cutlass and transferred to Poole recompression chamber for treatment.
Portland Coastguard Watch Manager Allan Norman said: 'The new helicopter is a fantastic development in our ability to deliver a search and rescue service along the UK coastline. We anticipate many more successful rescues which will prove its operational effectiveness and utilise the range of advanced technology it has on board.' |
