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SteveH:
 Training starts on new search and rescue helicopters in North Wales

Training has started on new search and rescue helicopters which will soon replace the famous yellow Sea Kings.
The red and white Sivorsky helicopters will take over full search and rescue operations on July 1.
Members of every North Wales search and rescue service team took part in the first training session on Wednesday as the teams got up to speed with the new helicopters.
More details and great photos....
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/look-training-starts-new-search-9344878


"Bristow, who won the £1.6bn government contract to provide a search and rescue service."
Under the new contract, 22 helicopters will operate from 10 locations around the UK.
Ten S-92s will be based, two per site, at Stornoway and Sumburgh, and at new bases at Newquay, Caernarfon and Humberside airports.

I was surprised by the privatization of SAR.... looking further I found "for and against" arguments in the following link interesting....
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enES433ES433&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=bristow%20air%20sea%20rescue

Blongb:
I had the privilege of being a part of Bristow Search and Rescue, for 13 years during my time spent Offshore on the Shell Brent Oilfield. We provided 2 Helicopters, Rescue 145 and 146 to the U.K. Search and Rescue Service which was controlled from Pitreavie Castle, Edinburgh, 24 / 7, 365 days of the year. Bristow has a long tradition in the Search and Rescue field, having started its first U.K. operation at Manston in Kent during 1958.

Just like other parts of the Armed Forces the equipment being used by the R.A.F. and Navy, although much loved, is no longer fit for purpose. The design of the Sea King goes back to 1961, with Rotor systems and Avionics hopelessly out of date by today’s standards. With 97% of their call-outs being of a civilian nature, the Government, with no money in the Treasury really had no choice but to privatize the service.
There has been a very lively debate about it on the following link 

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/511282-uk-sar-2013-privatisation-new-thread.html

SteveH:
Thanks for the link, Blongb, it helped to answer some of my questions.....I would like to think some formal recognition will be forthcoming for outstanding service......it will be a tough act to follow.....

SteveH:
I could hear a lot of helicopter activity last night but did not see anything.......Anybody?  ?  ?
"PRACTICE RUN: Two new red and white Sikorsky S92s search and rescue helicopters were out on training along the Menai Strait last night."RefDP.

SteveH:
new red and white Sikorsky S92s search and rescue helicopters

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