Helicopter operator Avincis has seen its contract with the Spanish government for maritime search and rescue (SAR) services renewed for another five years.

Valued at €305 million ($336 million), the contract with agency SASEMAR sees Avincis operating from 11 bases across Spain in support of the Salvamento Maritimo.

Avincis AW139-c-Avincis

Source: Avincis

Avincis operates AW139 intermediate-twins on the contract

Avincis has been providing round-the-clock SAR cover since first winning the public tender in 1993.

Since then, the operator has flown over 100,000h, completed approximately 16,000 missions, and rescued or evacuated more than 8,500 people.

John Boag, group chief executive of Avincis, says: “SASEMAR is one of our longest-standing and most respected clients, and we are very pleased to have been awarded the latest tender for the helicopters providing part of their aerial service.

“We have delivered maritime search and rescue services in Spain for the past three decades. Our highly-experienced and well-trained crews will continue to be there whenever needed over the next five years.”

Dominic Perry is deputy editor of Flight International but also contributes extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives.View full Profile

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