SAR - In-flight connectivity - UK

Bristow SAR Fleet to Use Broadband Connectivity

Woodrow Bellamy III 

[Avionics Today 12-8-2014] Bristow Helicopters is adding broadband connectivity to its fleet of Search and Rescue (SAR) S-92 helicopters. The rotorcraft operator has a new agreement with Iridium to use its speedy OpenPort broadband service via the Thales LiveAero system. 

 

 

First S-92 helicopter delivered to Bristow Group Inc. on Sept 8, 2014, for search-and-rescue service in the United Kingdom. Photo: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

 

"Bristow has had Iridium connectivity in all commercial aircraft for over six years, as a Bristow standard, to track all of our aircraft for flight following purposes," Samantha Willenbacher, director of the U.K. SAR division at Bristow, told Avionics Magazine. "Our Gap SAR aircraft, operating on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at Stornoway and Sumburgh have satellite connectivity for flight tracking and satellite telephone communications. The U.K. SAR contract requires Bristow to transmit medical data off aircraft and the LiveAero-Iridium connectivity will enable this — this was not a requirement of the Gap SAR contract."