RAF SAR service complete
The Royal Air Force (RAF) UK search and rescue (SAR) air operations drew to a close in October, marking the end of more than 74 years of continuous operations by the RAF.
SAR duties have now been handed over to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Bristow Helicopters, which will provide crews and helicopters to maintain SAR duties under Maritime & Coastguard Agency management.
Bristow was awarded the £1.6 billion contract to provide the service in March 2013. It will operate 22 Sikorsky S-92s and AgustaWestland AW189s from ten bases across the country until 2026. The service was officially launched at the new SAR base at Humberside Airport in February, with bases launching periodically through to 2017.
Since their introduction more than 30 years ago, the RAF’s Sea Kings and their crews have performed 24/7 SAR operations, saving tens of thousands of lives. Since official records began in 1983 the RAF’s six SAR units completed 34,025 callouts and rescued 26,853 persons in distress.
The service has seen personnel awarded six George Medals, more than 50 Air Force Crosses and Medals, and more than 90 Queen’s Commendations for Bravery or Valuable Service in the Air.
Officer Commanding 22 Squadron Wing Commander ‘Sparky’ Dunlop said: ‘As we commemorate the end of the RAF SAR force, we reflect on the end of a long tradition of RAF personnel who launched aircraft that safely flew and efficiently searched for, then rescued, those in distress around the clock, 365-days-a-year.’
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