Minister publishes review of the UK search and rescue helicopter service

Post-Implementation Review of MCA helicopter service launched by Minister today.

I am delighted to publish this independently produced post-implementation review of the UK search and rescue helicopter service. The service has been in place since 2015 and in that time, has been responsible for the rescue of thousands of lives. As Minister responsible for the service, I am proud of the work of our helicopter crews who routinely put their own lives at risk to rescue others.

I recognise the high expectations the public has for this service, particularly given the fact that it replaced the much respected military sea king service. I equally recognise the degree to which our stakeholders in the emergency services and the volunteer rescue organisations value our search and rescue helicopters and how critical it is to enable those services to undertake their lifesaving work.

To assure itself that the UK search and rescue helicopter service is meeting our stakeholders’ needs and to evaluate the impact the service has had on the ability to respond to people in distress, the MCA commissioned this review to evaluate the work of the UK search and rescue helicopter service since it has been in operation.

The review draws upon statistical data and insight from partner rescue organisations to reach its conclusions. The general opinion of the review is that the transition to the UK search and rescue helicopter service was successful. It concludes that the anticipated benefits are either met or on track to be met. It further identifies a number of unanticipated benefits that present opportunities for the future to grow the service to be offer even greater value for money to the public.

This review will be used to inform the government’s plans for the next generation search and rescue aviation capability, work on which has now started.

Nusrat Ghani MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport

HM Coastguard: Injured fisherman rescued amidst choppy seas

An 18 year old fisherman who sustained a hand injury on board his vessel was rescued from choppy seas on the evening of 02 July by the Stornoway coastguard helicopter.

Published 5 July 2019

From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Before 8.30pm on 2 July HM Coastguard received a VHF radio broadcast from a fishing vessel with six people onboard 70nm north east of Stornoway, reporting that one of their crewmen had sustained a hand injury.

The Stornoway coastguard helicopter flew to the scene and winched the fisherman on board amidst choppy seas.

He was airlifted to Stornoway airport where a waiting ambulance took him to the Western Isles hospital for treatment. We wish him a speedy recovery.

HM Coastguard: joint effort to rescue fisherman from rocks after cliff fall

A fisherman was airlifted to hospital on Saturday afternoon after falling 10m from a cliff onto rocks at Bedruthen Steps on Saturday 29 June. 

At 7.25pm HM Coastguard received a 999 call from the fisherman's buddy reporting that his friend had fallen 10m onto rocks and was dangerously close to the water's edge at Park Head, Newquay.  

The man had reportedly fallen about ten metres onto a rocky ledge and then a further five metres into a water-filled gully. Fortunately, he was rescued from the sea by his friends who climbed down to help him and were able to recover him back up to the ledge.

Newquay and Padstow Coastguard Rescue Teams, Newquay RNLI Lifeboat and the Newquay Coastguard helicopter were all sent to the scene.

The man was stabilised and treated on scene by the Winchman paramedic, two paramedics from the lifeboat crew and the Cornwall Air Ambulance critical care team, who responded by road, with support from the Coastguard Rescue Teams. 

The casualty was winched onboard and flown to Derriford Hospital, where we wish him a speedy recovery.  The man's friend was taken to Mawgan Porth by the RNLI crew.  

SAFETY ADVICE

The informant did exactly the right thing to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard in this incident.

Angling is a hugely popular pastime for many people.  We want people to enjoy their days out and return home safely. As always though, if you do see someone in trouble or you get into difficulty yourself, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’


Make sure you have a suitable flotation device; check weather and tidal conditions; tell a shore contact where you are going and when you intend to be back – tell them to call 999 and ask for the coastguard if you don’t return on time; wear suitable footwear such as stout walking boots and take a torch and a mobile phone with you.

Two men rescued after their vessel catches fire

Two men were safely rescued after their vessel caught fire off the coast of Selsey Bill on 4 June 2019.

HM Coastguard launched the search and rescue operation just after 1 pm on 4 June 2019 after they received multiple 999 calls reporting the 44 ft motor vessel on fire.

Selsey Bill Lifeboat and the Lee-on-Solent coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene.

A mayday relay broadcast was also issued by the coastguard and several nearby vessels responded and made their way to the stricken vessel to assist.

The two people on board, who were wearing life jackets, had abandoned their ship to a small dinghy which was quickly spotted by the RNLI lifeboat.

The two casualties were picked up by the lifeboat and were assessed by paramedics. One person was reported to be suffering from burns and the other person had minor injuries. They were both airlifted to Southampton general hospital for treatment.

The vessel was later reported to have sunk.

The MCA’s counter pollution and enforcement teams were notified, along with the marine accident investigation branch.

Los nuevos helicópteros SAR del HM Coastguard entran en servicio en la base de Inverness

Miembros de la tripulación de Inverness SAR: Comandante Simon Hancock y Tom Greene.

La base de helicópteros de búsqueda y rescate (SAR) del HM Coastguard en INVERNESS han recibido dos helicópteros Leonardo AW189, que prestarán servicio en la Agencia Marítima y de Guardacostas.

Los dos aparatos reemplazan a dos helicópteros Sikorsky S-92, que han estado en servicio en la base de Inverness desde 2015. Cada helicóptero AW189, de 20 millones de £, en los colores rojo y blanco de los HM Coastguard, son operados bajo contrato por Bristow Helicopters Limited.

La base de Guardacostas en Inverness es la quinta y última del Reino Unido en volar este nuevo modelo de aeronave para misiones SAR, después de Lydd y Lee-on-Solent en la costa sur, St Athan en Gales y Prestwick en el centro de Escocia.

El Leonardo AW189 es un helicóptero de última generación de la categoría de 8 toneladas, está diseñado para cumplir con las necesidades en todo tipo de misiones, diurnas y nocturnas, a largas distancias gracias a su magnífica autonomía, alcance, radio de acción y alta resistencia para las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate bajo las condiciones meteorológicas más exigentes.

Inverness es uno de los 10 puntos estratégicamente distribuidos en todo el Reino Unido. Todos ellos son operados por Bristow.

Proporciona un apoyo imprescindible para salvar vidas a las industrias de energía offshore, así como en incidentes en tierra, como rescate en montaña, búsqueda de personas desaparecidas y emergencias médicas.

Las tripulaciones de Bristow están ofreciendo el servicio de helicóptero SAR del Reino Unido en nombre del HM Coastguard con helicópteros de última generación, equipados con la última tecnología en sistemas y equipos específicos para búsqueda y rescate, incluido NVG para visión nocturna, gestión de misión y aumento de capacidades médicas a bordo.

Damien Oliver, Director del Programa de Aviación de la Agencia de Guardacostas Marítimos (MCA): "Estamos orgullosos de liderar el camino en la búsqueda y rescate tanto sobre el mar como en tierra. "Estos helicópteros Leonardo AW189 nos permitirán continuar realizando misiones aún más vitales en toda Escocia, dentro de un área donde los rescates pueden ser muy exigentes para nuestras tripulaciones y en lugares de difícil acceso".

John McIntyre, piloto y jefe de la base de Inverness: "El AW189 ha sido un gran éxito desde que se introdujo en el UK SAR en 2017, completando más de 1.200 misiones operando desde las otras cuatro bases, casi la mitad de las cuales se originaron desde la se Prestwick en Escocia.

“El AW189 se ha probado en entornos marinos a montañosos en operaciones de búsqueda y rescate en los últimos dos años. Nuestro entrenamiento durante los 365 días, la calidad de la aeronave y la tecnología de a bordo son esenciales para mantener nuestra capacidad de devolver a las personas a casa de forma segura, culminando con éxito la misión.

"Estas aeronaves, y el arduo trabajo de nuestras tripulaciones dedicadas junto con los otros servicios con los que trabajamos, nos brindan la mejor oportunidad de cumplir con el nivel increíblemente alto por el que es famoso el servicio SAR del Reino Unido".

La base SAR de los Guardacostas creada a tal efecto en la base de Inverness está cubierta por un equipo total de 32 personas. Bristow comenzó a operar el servicio de helicópteros SAR del Reino Unido en nombre de la Agencia Marítima de Guardacostas (MCA) en 2015, tras ganar la licitación en 2013.