Bristow Helicopters has taken delivery of two new AgustaWestland AW139s as a potential stop-gap measure to help fulfill its contract with the UK government to progressively take over search and rescue activities from the military, beginning in 2015.
The operator won the 10-year deal in 2013 with a proposal based on two different helicopters, the 8.3t AW189 and the 12t Sikorsky S-92.
Although certification for the SAR variant of the AW189 is likely to be received in a matter of days, Bristow has been forced to consider alternatives given the tight lead time before operations are due to start.
Its first bases covered by the contract go live in April 2015. One of these – Inverness – was due to deploy two AW189s, but Bristow has already indicated it will use S-92s as its back-up plan for the site.
Nonetheless, with at least eight AW189s required by January 2016, Bristow has moved to bring in additional stop-gap resources.
The two AW139s (G-CIJX and G-CIJW) have yet to be allocated to a specific site, says Bristow, but have been delivered “as part of our contingency plan to be implemented in the event that the AW189 is delayed”.
Training activities using the intermediate twins have commenced as the operator prepares for the start of the contract.
“This is a phased process to allow us to co-ordinate pre-operational activity as per the contractual agreement between Bristow and AgustaWestland, and based on the contingency plan,” it says.
Bristow declines to reveal details of how much, if anything, it has paid for the AW139s, simply saying it is a “contractual matter” between itself and AgustaWestland.
In addition, doubts have also been expressed by some observers that the smaller 6.8t helicopters are a suitable replacement for the super-medium AW189s.
Bristow says it is working with the manufacturer and its customer, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, “to ensure the contingency aircraft are fit for purpose”.
It holds options covering a further two SAR-roled AW139s for the contract.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
