Bristows expected to takeover rescue helicopter service 3/2/12
The government has been forced to obtain new coastguard rescue helicopters to cover the north of Scotland as a result of the chaotic fallout from the collapse of a £6 billion PFI deal.
The measures are being implemented because the entire Highlands and Islands coastline risked being left without maritime cover next year.
The present helicopters are being sent to Ireland after being told they were no longer needed in Scotland.
The Irish deal was signed off so the islands’ rescue aircraft are no longer available.
Bristow Helicopters is expected to be revealed as the operator of a stop-
The present helicopters were due to leave this summer but the Coastguard service
has invoked a 12-
A Department of Transport spokesman said the successful bidder would be known next week.
The emergency rescue gap problem was caused as the four Sikorsky S92s based on the islands were assigned to take up duties in Dublin this Spring.
They were surplus to requirements as the Soteria civilian consortium was due to take
over the contract under a UK-
CHC then signed a deal with the Irish government to use the unwanted Stornoway and
Shetland coastguard search-
The Canadian giant had won a 10-
But the Coalition government threw out the Soteria deal amid accusations of irregularities and the launch of a police probe into how the consortium got hold of commercially sensitive information.
It left the vast areas of land and sea around the Highlands and Islands without any
arranged cover while an extensive fresh UK-
Bristows previously operated helicopters on behalf of the coastguards at the two island bases.
Under existing arrangements, UK search and rescue is provided jointly by the Ministry
of Defence (MoD) -
Future arrangements will see the end of military involvement in a dedicated helicopter search and rescue service.
The government says this will allow the armed forces to focus their activity on front-