The 1st April 2015 sees a major change in the helicopter search and rescue service covering the Peak District.  The traditional service provided by the R.A.F. and the Royal Navy will soon be phased out as Bristows takes on the new contract and the Peak District is one of the first regions to be served by the new aircraft.

Bristow Group Inc. is based in Houston, Texas, but has a proud heritage which includes providing search and rescue services in the UK since 1971 with the company being in  operation from Sumburgh and Stornoway supporting the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.  The company now has the contract to provide all search and rescue helicopter services throughout the U.K. starting with a new base at Inverness and another on Humberside from which the Peak District will be covered.

At the end of November 2014, Bristow took delivery of three S-92 aircraft and the first AW189 for the contract.  By summer of 2017, Bristow will deliver helicopter rescue services from ten strategically located bases around the 10,500 miles of UK coast, using a fleet of brand new helicopters.

On Saturday 24th January the first Sikorsky S-92 arrived in the Peak District to allow mountain rescue team members from all over the region to familiarise themselves with the new aircraft.  The bright red and white helicopter replaces the familiar yellow R.A.F. Seaking which has served the area since 1992.  With only sixty flying hours on the clock the aircraft had that special new car smell of polish and fresh paint.  The S-92 helicopter is the most advanced aircraft in Sikorsky’s civil product line.  It boasts an impressive specification with an air speed of 145 knots, an operational radius of 250 nautical miles and the capacity to carry two stretchers with eleven seated persons and its crew of four.  The S-92 aircraft is equipped with a range of state-of-the-art search and rescue technology, including night vision, mission management and increased on-board medical capabilities.

Following a full guided tour of the aircraft and all its gadgets the crew explained all the safety and emergency procedures.  Then it was time for a practical demonstration and with the helicopter hovering just a few metres off the ground the rescuers could experience the mighty down-draft from the rotor-blades.  Next some of the region’s search and rescue dogs had the opportunity for a short flight to experience the noise of the engines and the exposure of a winch-cable lower back to earth.

Several similar training events are programmed for the next two months with the aim to give every member of the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation an overview of the helicopter’s capabilities.  It is essential to ensure that everyone is trained to work safely in the vicinity of the aircraft in an operational situation before the service goes live on 1st April.

Photo credit: BMRT  –   The first Sikorsky S-92 lands near to Edale MRT’s base in the Hope Valley.     Team members being briefed of emergency procedures by a crew member.