Era was the first company to operate the AW139 in a SAR configuration in North America. Dan Megna Photo
Era Group Inc. (Era) has announced its Search-and-Rescue (SAR) Program has successfully completed 1,000 missions in the Gulf of Mexico. Collaborating with Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR), an internationally recognized leader of SAR services, Era pioneered the establishment of its commercial air ambulance and search-and-rescue offering in the United States in 2010.
Three SAR-equipped Leonardo AW139 (formerly AgustaWestland) medium helicopters operating from Era’s new super base in Houma, Louisiana and Galveston, Texas, support the SAR Program and provide operational coverage throughout the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, significantly improving offshore safety. As the world’s largest civilian operator of Leonardo-Finmeccanica helicopters, Era was the first company to operate the AW139 in a SAR configuration in North America.
Era’s aircraft can operate under instrument flight rules (IFR) and offer full SAR capabilities such as a Goodrich dual hoist system, night vision, and integrated auto hover with search pattern modes, high intensity searchlight and a forward looking infrared system. The dedicated aircraft feature complete advanced life support (ALS) medical care packages, including critical care, fluid resuscitation, advanced airway, pain management and cardiac monitoring, providing unparalleled medical response capability.
P1AR’s multi-disciplined hoist operators, rescue swimmers and paramedics integrate ALS patient care with helicopter hoisting operations. The P1AR crew members are also capable of providing technical rescue for workers in remote access and confined spaces on oil-and-gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations, including offshore support vessels, ocean freighters and cruise ships.
Combining ALS air ambulance and SAR capabilities with the highest level of pre-hospital medical care available facilitates the provision of medical treatment to locations previously unreachable. The SAR Program is supported by four engineering and manufacturing development-certified medical dispatchers, 18 IFR, night vision goggles, air ambulance and hoist-qualified pilots and 36 P1AR medically-qualified rescue specialists.
“The 1,000 mission milestone is a testament to the status of Era’s partnered SAR Program as the go-to solution for companies and their employees in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Paul White, senior vice president, Commercial. “Though we never wish the need for our services to arise, our SAR Program has become an important component of offshore safety assurance, and we see additional SAR opportunities both here and abroad. We take great pride in helping our customers rest easy knowing that our SAR Program is standing by and at the ready to assist as necessary.”
“The driving force behind the SAR Program is the passion and commitment of everyone involved,” said Brad Matheson, president of P1AR. “The successful completion of the 1,000th SAR mission clearly demonstrates the importance of the offering made possible through the Era and P1AR partnership.
“The success of the SAR Program reflects the safety commitment of the subscribers and other customers to ensure their staff, clients and community are afforded the best possible response in the event of an emergency. The capabilities of the SAR Program are built upon innovation and training that will provide further opportunities for continued growth in this highly specialized sector of the helicopter industry.”
