AgustaWestland AW189 Helicopter selected for UK Search and Rescue

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, reported that its AW189 Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter will play a pivotal role in the provision of SAR services in the UK. Bristow Helicopters Ltd., which has been awarded the contract by the UK Department for Transport to provide SAR services to the UK for 10 years, has selected the AW189 SAR variant as one of the central platforms for its SAR programme. In addition to the aircraft, AgustaWestland will provide related training, maintenance and support services. A total of 11 AW189s will be operated by Bristow in the UK, with a phased-in starting period between 2015 and 2017. The programme for AgustaWestland is valued at over €275million.