TWO custom-made helicopters worth millions of pounds are set to lead the offshore energy sector’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team as part of an agreement that guarantees the service for the next ten years..
The current provider, Offshore Helicopter Services UK Ltd (OHSUK), will keep offering the service that supprts up to 10,000 workers until at least 2032.
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Based in Aberdeen, the SAR teams cover a wide region of the North Sea, ensuring round-the-clock medical emergency support is available every day in the most challenging work conditions, with a response time as quick as 15 minutes from the moment a task is assigned to a crew.
OHSUK has been working with the offshore energy industry for the last year to create the new helicopters and equip the SAR teams with the latest technologies.
The cutting-edge Leonardo AW139s have been developed with the help of industry experts, flight crews, engineers, and medical professionals.
Night vision goggles will be provided to all crew members, the cabin design will be updated, and a new bright blue and orange colour scheme has been chosen.
Managing director Andy Rodden said: “Over the course of the last ten years the SAR crews have attended almost 1,000 call outs.
“That number shows just how vital the service is to those working offshore. We will use that experience to ensure our SAR teams are able to evolve and have access to the best equipment for the next decade to ensure that they are ready and prepared to respond to incidents at any time.
“This is a new era for the service. Securing a long-term deal shows the trust our partners have in the service and our ability to support their workforce, often when they are at their most vulnerable.
“The contract is excellent news for OHSUK, oil and gas participants and for the offshore energy sector as a whole.”
Industry Search and Rescue is financially backed and supported by various partners from the energy sector.
As part of this effort, SAR teams can take part in thorough training flights, showcasing their ongoing dedication to the safety and security of offshore workers.
Search and Rescue flight manager David Punchard said: “We have an all-weather capability and are ready to respond, round the clock 365 days of the year.
“The majority of the tasking is ‘medevac’, retrieval of injured people offshore, with a portion of that being search and rescue as well.
“We have the capability to respond to a wide range of incidents to provide a high level of medical care and rescue provision, but in an extreme environment, and get them to a place of safety as quickly as possible.
“It’s an exciting time for us, with two new airframes coming online it will allow us to provide even greater medical support and be ready for what the future brings.”
OHSUK is part of the Ultimate Aviation Group.
