Sikorsky has sold two S-76C+ helicopters to the fisheries and maritime affairs department of Galicia in Spain. The aircraft are equipped for search and rescue (SAR) missions. Deliveries are planned for spring 2005.
Galicia's SAR operation provides coastguard coverage off north-west Spain. The service in the past has leased its rescue and maritime patrol helicopters, but selected the S-76C+ as the first helicopter type it will own.
Key missions include SAR over land and sea as well as fisheries surveillance and inspection. Secondary missions include support of emergency medical services, civil protection, police support and general logistics work.
Equipment aboard the all-weather IFR-equipped aircraft includes a four-axis AFCS, auto approach to hover and departure with search patterns, FLIR, digital video recorder, NiteSun searchlight, rescue hoist with back-up clip-on hoist HUMS, weather radar, moving map display, GPS and a flotation system.
Eight Sikorsky S-76C aircraft are operated currently by the Spanish air force.
Source: Flight Daily News
