Article Posted on : - Apr 09, 2013

AgustaWestland's AW189 helicopter

ROME (BNS): AgustaWestland's AW189 has been selected to play a pivotal role in the provision of Search & Rescue (SAR) services in the United Kingdom.

Bristow Helicopters Ltd., which has been awarded the contract by the UK Department for Transport to provide SAR services to the UK for 10 years, has selected the AW189 SAR variant as one of the central platforms for its SAR programme.

In addition to the aircraft, AgustaWestland will provide related training, maintenance and support services. A total of 11 AW189s will be operated by Bristow in the UK, with a phased-in starting period between 2015 and 2017. The programme for AgustaWestland is valued at over 275 million euro.

The iconic Sea King, which has been operational for over 30 years, is currently providing the bulk of Search and Rescue missions in the UK alongside the AW139 which has undertaken the same role, primarily on Britain's south coast, for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.

The AW189 SAR helicopter is part of AgustaWestland's family of new generation helicopters that also includes the AW169 and AW139.