American firm to operate Portland Coastguard helicopter

11:30am Monday 18th March 2013 in News

THE Portland Coastguard search and rescue helicopter is set to be operated by a new American owner.

US helicopter operator Bristow is due to win a £3bn contract to take over the search and rescue service.

Bristow has beaten Bond Aviation, a British rival, to secure the 13-year deal.

The Department for Transport may announce the decision as early as next week.

The rescue service is currently run jointly by the RAF, the Royal Navy and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Public sector unions fought the privatisation of the service, citing concerns about safety and the closure of two bases.

Bristow is listed in New York and based in Houston.

The Portland Coastguard helicopter faces the axe in 2017 under government cost-cutting plans to relocate it to Lee-on-Solent.

Campaigners are fighting to keep the helicopter service based locally.

More than 14,000 people have signed an e-petition to Save Portland Helicopter.

The under-threat aircraft was recently raised in the House of Commons.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax urged ministers to come to Dorset and meet lifesavers.

Mr Drax was speaking at an adjournment debate in the House of Commons in front of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker.

Comments(5)

Houdini says...
3:49pm Tue 19 Mar 13

TAXPAYERS, we are talking about H.M. COASTGUARD SERVICE. The word that comes to mind is TREASON, a word described in the English Dictionary as an act of deliberate betrayal, or, a crime against one's own countries interest.

The award of this contract cannot be blamed on our membership to Europe, rather, the short sighted, self interests of people making these decisions.

Future helicopters will not be supplied by Westland in Yeovil, Coastguard knowledge and jobs will go and the taxpayer will pick up the bill for those who are stealing our assets and giving them to a foreign country. We need the jobs HERE, we need taxpayers money to remain HERE to pull our economy straight. This deal is for 13 years and we will not be able to reverse it. It will NOT cost less and over the contract period will rise uncontrollably.

Also, Portland and Weymouth Coastguard will be closed and the coastal and inland regions for many, many miles will have inadequate cover.

I see these deals to strip the cupboard bare as only one thing, a betrayal of the people who pay the bills, the taxpayer.

(Echo, please feel free to publish as more than a comment).

Report this post »

Atalanta says...
4:47pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Absolutely disgusting that they are putting peoples lives in the trust of another country! It beggars belief! This government of ours is selling our country short and taking its people for more than just a helicopter ride. Treason is the right word.

We have our own excellent services running the rescue operations and you can't get better than home-grown personnel with the vital local knowledge that ensures risk of life is always at a minimum. They are the best and no other country, no matter how hard it tries, can even come close to matching that.

Report this post »

Laadeeda says...
12:28pm Wed 20 Mar 13

I thought HMCG leased the aircraft from Bristows anyway so what has changed!!

Or am I way out of date?

Report this post »

VaguelyPurple says...
2:17pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Well, exactly. They've been operated under contract for many years, this will make absolutely no difference at all, and is nothing to do with whatever may be planned about relocating it. i expect the same crews will operate it, & they'll just change when the contract changes. It really is nothing to get outraged about.

Report this post »

marabout says...
4:15pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Bristows maybe Listed in NYC and based in Houston but the Echo has missed the local story here.

Alan Bristow was a Naval Officer who flew Helicopters from the local area. He worked for Westlands as their First Test Pilot before forming his own Helicopter company.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree