AAR commences Falkland SAR operations
AAR’s Airlift division has commenced search and rescue (SAR) and support helicopter (SH) operations for the UK Ministry of Defence in the Falkland Islands, the company announced at the end of March.
AAR Airlift Group, Air Rescue Systems and British International Helicopters are delivering SAR and SH services to the South Atlantic Islands operations of British forces. AAR is providing Sikorsky S-61N support helicopters, Finmeccanica AW189 SAR helicopters, flight operations, logistics, maintenance, personnel management and facilities support at the Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands and the surrounding maritime region.
The mission includes year-round, 24/7, all-weather SAR, helicopter emergency services, rescue hoist operations as well as cargo and passenger transfers. AAR was awarded the £180 million, ten-year contract in January 2015, following which it sourced two AW189s from Finmeccanica to meet the programing requirements. The helicopters were delivered and accepted in November 2015.
Steven Harrison, president, AAR Airlift Group, said: ‘AAR has integrated a team of industry experts to deliver to the UK Ministry of Defence a sophisticated commercial SAR service fit for a military and civil application, the first operation of its kind. We are committed to providing a reliable, quality SAR service that maintains the standards of the Royal Air Force, as well as continued excellence for the commercial support helicopter services.’
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