SAR - Sivilister kan det og - R&W

Bristow Wins Sikorsky Rescue Award for 6-Hour Mission in North Atlantic

By S.L. Fuller | September 12, 2017

Search and Rescue

 
 
 
 
 

Image of Newquay SAR aircraft G-MCGY, photo copyright Bob Sharples Photography, courtesy of Sikorsky.

Bristow Helicopters Ltd. has received the Sikorsky Winged-S Rescue Award, the manufacturer said. Accepted during the 2017 Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition, the award is in recognition of a lifesaving mission in the North Atlantic.

In May, Sikorsky said, a Bristow crew was operating an S-92 out of the Her Majesty’s Coastguard Prestwick search and rescue base. The crew rescued Matthew Bryce, 22, who was stranded at sea for 32 hours. That S-92, call sign “Rescue 999,” found Bryce as he was drifting off the coast of Northern Ireland. Sikorsky said the mission lasted more than six hours, as the crew hoisted Bryce from the sea. He was then transported to a hospital in Belfast and later recovered.

“We have been successfully operating S-92 helicopters for more than 10 years,” said Damien Oliver, assistant director of UK MCA Aviation. “The high reliability of our S-92 helicopter fleet throughout that time has been absolutely critical to our time-sensitive mission.”

In its 67th year, the Winged-S Rescue Award Program recognizes those who perform rescue missions in a Sikorsky helicopter. Sikorsky says these rescues fulfill Igor Sikorsky’s vision of the helicopter as a lifesaving tool.