The last purpose-built HM Coastguard helicopter base at Lydd, Kent, was opened on July 12, marking a major milestone in the U.K.’s national search-and-rescue helicopter service.
Nusrat Ghani MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, officially opened the base and witnessed the duty search-and-rescue helicopter crew returning from a training sortie, in a ceremony at the south coast aerodrome on July 12.
Lydd is one of 10 bases strategically located around the country in close proximity to areas where search-and-rescue incident rates are high. The other bases around the U.K. are at Sumburgh, Stornoway, Inverness, Prestwick, Caernarfon, St Athan, Humberside, Lee-on-Solent and Newquay.
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. operates the search-and-rescue helicopter service for the U.K. on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard, having been awarded the 10-year contract by the Department for Transport in March 2013, representing a £1.9 billion investment by the U.K. Government in the U.K.’s search-and-rescue helicopter service.
This service sees state-of-the-art facilities and helicopters, equipped with the latest search-and-rescue technology including night vision, mission management and increased onboard medical capabilities, enabling crews to deliver a first-class helicopter service to the U.K.
“This new base at Lydd means helicopter crews and volunteers can continue to provide a vital emergency service, keeping people safe in the sea, on beaches and at other coastal areas in Kent and the South East,” said Ghani.
“We have invested £1.9 billion to improve our search-and-rescue helicopter service, providing state-of-the-art helicopters which can fly faster and further than before – reaching people in need more quickly.”
Richard Parkes, director of maritime operations and HM Coastguard for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said, “The HM Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopter crews based at Lydd have been delivering an exceptional service for the past three years out of temporary facilities. It has given me great pleasure to see them now permanently settled. I have no doubt that the addition of the state-of-the-art facilities and the new AW189 helicopters will enable the team to continue to deliver a world class service that we all can be proud of.”
The opening of Lydd is the culmination of a significant national program of investment which has delivered modern facilities which better-equip the 31-strong team of specialist pilots, winch operators, winchman paramedics, engineers and support staff as they respond to search-and-rescue incidents across the U.K.
Russ Torbet, director of U.K. search-and-rescue at Bristow Helicopters Ltd, said, “Search-and-rescue plays a vital part in protecting people on land and at sea in the U.K. Our crews are absolutely dedicated to doing everything they can to increase the chances of survival of anyone who finds themselves in a position where air rescue is needed.
“The new bases we have now constructed give our crews access to the best facilities in terms of being prepared to go out there and do that vital, life-saving work – from the standard of living quarters available to those on-base, ready to respond; to the operations and engineering control areas which are crucial to the day-to-day running of the service.
“At Bristow, we are incredibly proud to provide the search-and-rescue service on behalf of HM Coastguard and, in unveiling Lydd today, deliver on the commitment we made on award of the contract in 2013.
“We also want to recognize the work Westridge Construction, the local contractor appointed to create this site, has done in maintaining the standard which was set at the six previous new bases delivered across the country, as we officially begin operations from the new facility.”
At Lydd, part of the London Ashford Airport complex, two Leonardo AW189 helicopters are stationed and serve the south and south-east coast of England, as well as the English Channel when called upon.
The Lydd base is led by chief pilot Captain Neil Robertson, a former Sea King pilot whose 17-year career in the RAF saw him serve as Flight Commander at RAF Wattisham’s SAR unit.
Capt Robertson said, “Our team’s focus is always on bringing people home safely from a search and rescue operation. During day-to-day operations and throughout our year-round training program, this new base ensures that we have the facilities and support we need to be able to maintain the incredibly high standards the U.K. SAR service is renowned for.”
