Bristow accepts first UK SAR S-92

Bristow Helicopters has received the first search and rescue-configured Sikorsky S-92 helicopter.

The helicopter was accepted during a ceremony at the Sikorsky facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

In March 2013, Bristow Helicopters was awarded the contract to provide search and rescue helicopter service in the UK. The contract begins in April 2015 and runs until 2026.

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Jonathan Baliff, president and CEO of Bristow Group, says: “We are very excited to receive the first aircraft from Sikorsky for our U.K. search and rescue fleet. With more than 60 S-92 helicopters already in our inventory, we have come to know and appreciate the aircraft’s mission capabilities.”

Carey Bond, president of Sikorsky commercial systems & services, said: “At Sikorsky, we stand behind our mission statement: we pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere every time. Bristow has a long history of search and rescue and we are proud to support their efforts in the UK to bring people home. Sikorsky would also like to thank the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Bristow as the operator for their choice of the S-92 helicopter for this very critical mission.”

Sikorsky and Bristow have done business for more than 40 years. The Bristow fleet currently features more than 160 Sikorsky aircraft of various types.