MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (No:186-08) issued by The Government
News Network on 1 July 2008
The new
AgustaWestland 139 Coastguard Helicopters go operational today
from their bases in Lee on Solent and Portland.
The Coastguard Rescue Helicopters, are based at Lee On Solent,
and at Portland in modern purpose built hangars.
These helicopters are being provided under contract to the MCA by
CHC Helicopters who won the interim contract to supply the service
to the MCA from 2007 to 2012.
The interim contract provides for a Coastguard search and rescue
helicopter service from four civilian-operated bases -
Lee-on-the-Solent and Portland on the south coast and Stornoway
and Sumburgh in Scotland - for a five-year period from July 1, 2007.
Rod Johnson, Chief Coastguard said:
"We are delighted to announce that the new AgustaWestland
139 Coastguard helicopters are now operational on the South coast,
providing a robust Search and Rescue asset that is a huge
technological and operational advance from its predecessor.
These helicopters are specifically designed to overcome the
challenges of 21st century search and rescue along the UK coastline.
The technology on board is arguably the most advanced in Search
and Rescue today.
We look forward to a new era with the new aircraft, and to the
helicopters proving their operational effectiveness and
reliability in rescues over the coming months."
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk