Beaufort County Sheriff adds search and rescue Bell helicopter

Beaufort County Sheriff's Bell 206A

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina adds a 1971-built Bell 206A helicopter. The new asset will be used to assist in search and rescue as well as other missions throughout the county.

Utilising the Department of Defense Excess Property Program (DoD 1033), the Sheriff’s Office has acquired the ex-military helicopter. This programme allowed the Sheriff’s Office to receive the helicopter for free, with the operational costs already in the Sheriff’s Office current budget.

The helicopter will be piloted by Rob Wright of Beaufort County Mosquito Control and co-piloted by David Galm of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division.

The helicopter will focus on search and rescue in conjunction with the US Coast Guard and SC Department of Natural Resources as applicable. It will also be available for use by other agencies in the county as and when required.

The Island Packet – The Beaufort Gazette produced a short video and interview with Sheriff PJ Tanner about the helicopter: