S-61N Mk2 operated on behalf of HMCG by Bristow Helicopters in Scotland and on the south coast of England. 
Bristow had previously had SAR experience with the S-61N when it started a private SAR service around the North Sea hydrocarbon fields in Feb 1978 for BP. Its first involvement with HM Coastguard was when it took over contract SAR cover for the Shetland Islands based at Sumburgh (EGPB) in Dec 1983, from British Airways Helicopters. These two airframes operate as Rescue 117 and Rescue 118.
SAR operations expanded with Bristow in May 1987, when the Hebrides contract was let. Up to two airframes (one is on standby) are based at Stornoway (EGPO) and operate as Rescue 119 and Rescue 120.
Bristow's third S-61N contract with HMCG was taken on in Jun 1988 from a 202 Squadron Sea King HAR.3 detatchment at Lee-on-Solent (EGUS). When on SAROPS it uses callsigns in the range Rescue 174 to Rescue 176.
When the Royal Navy's plans to withdraw from RNAS Portland (EGDP) emerged, it would leave a gap in SAR coverage. Bristow's fourth SAR contract was for a single helicopter to be based at Portland. On operations, it is Rescue 172 or Rescue 173.
News |
Sikorsky Honors HM Coastguard
18-Jul-18 - Sikorsky celebrated 35 years of partnership with the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). HM Coastguard began using the S-61 in 1983. Nowadays flies 12 S-92 #anniversary
Sikorsky and Bristow Embark on New SAR Era
03-Mar-15 - Sikorsky today recognized Bristow Helicopters Ltd.’s upcoming launch of the U.K. search and rescue (SAR) contract and the company’s dedication to SAR over the past 40 years. Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1995/08 | Portland District | Portland Heliport |
| 1988/08 | Solent District | Lee-on-Solent |
| 1987/07 | Stornoway District | Stornoway |
| 1983/08 | Shetland District | Sumburgh |
List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61-712 | s61n.mk2 | 1973 | G-BBHL HM Coastguard, owned and maintained by Bristow; based Stornoway in the Hebrides... |  G-BBHL: Bristow Nov73-Sep08, Sikorsky serial N4032S  N364HH: Carson Oct08-Nov10 N364HH: EP Aviation Nov10-Jul16 N817AR: EP Aviation Jul16-Mar19 N817AR: Construction Helicopters Inc at Howell, MI Mar/Dec 2019 N712HG: Construction Helicopters Inc at Howell, MI from Jan20 | |
| 61-713 w/o 2002 | s61n.mk2 | 1973 | G-BBHM HM Coastguard, op by Bristow; 2002 based at Portland on the UK south coast, as t... | N4033S: Manufacturer test serial; exported to UK Nov 1973 G-BBHM: Bristow Dec73-Dec91, Sikorsky serial N4033S; lsd Maldiv... noted at Aberdeen EGPD Bristow May93-, w/o 15jul02 Aberdeen to Dhaka, Bangladesh - 8Q-HUM: Maldives Islands Dec91-May93, rtn Bristow | |
| 61-718 | s61n.mk2 | 1973 | G-BBVA HM Coastguard operated by Bristow | G-BBVA: Bristow Feb74-Sep08, to N364FH N364FH: EP Aviation Apr10-May19 N364FH: Construction Helicopters Inc at Howell, MI May/Dec 19 N718HG: Construction Helicopters Inc at Howell, MI from Jan20 | |
| 61-737 | s61n.mk2 | 1974 | G-BCLC HM Coastguard, op by Bristow; based at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands | G-BCLC: Bristow Jan75-Jan08, for HM Coastguard noted at Aberdeen EGPD N502SC: Sky Cats Puma Corp Mar08-Mar14; conv to S-61 Short 04jun11 pictured near Yorkville, Illinois N502SC: Heligroup 502 Llc at Missoula, MT from Mar14; CHI Aviat... | |
| 61-751 | s61n.mk2 | 1975 | G-BDIJ HM Coastguard, op by Bristow; pictured; based at Lee-on-Solent; Carries the na... | G-BDIJ: Bristow Oct75-May83, to Malaysia  9M-AYF: Bristow Malaysia May83-Jun84, back to G-BDIJ N436LC: State Dept from Oct10, rereg N751AW N751AW: Baghdad, Iraq seen flying along the coast adjacent to RAF Akrotiri, ... 07jul15 at Coventry City, UK 12jul16 GSA Auction on sale with N216WW. To be confirm... N629CK: Croman Corp from Dec16 Nov18 undergoing rework at Croman Corp’s White City f... | |
| 61-765 | s61n.mk2 | 1976 | G-BDOC Owned and maintained by Bristow Helicopters on behalf of HM Coastguard. In 2003 ... | G-BDOC: Bristow Mar76-Sep10 in SAR-Meet 2009 at Leeuwarden AB, Netherlands N426GE: US State Dept Nov11-2016? N765AW: EP Aviation Sep16-Jan20 - N765AW: Clayton International Inc at Peachtree City, GA by Feb2... pictured with N493WR and N471WR in storage at Peachtre... Feb/Nov 2020 for sale Sikorsky S61N 1976 - Price: $1,20... | |
| 61-752 | s61n.mk2 | 1974 | G-BIMU HM Coastguard, op by Bristow; 24aug97 Main rotor tips damaged by striking rock f... | - VH-CRU: Australia, Sikorsky serial N4024S G-BIMU: Caledonian Helicopters Jan81-May90 G-BIMU: Bristow May90-Oct15 pictured (pic1) at De Kooy, Netherlands during Heldair... rtn to UK after ending Dutch SAR contract. str at Norw... pictured (pic2) stored at Norwich airport. Sister G-BP... - N7563W: Withrotor Aviation at Lakeview, OR from Apr16 | |
| 61-822 | s61n.mk2 | 1979 | G-BPWB HM Coastguard, op by Bristow; asg Portland and carries the name "Portland Cas... |  EI-BHO: Irish Helicopters 1979-1989, all red livery Irish Helicopters 1991-1997; Rescue for the Department ... G-BPWB: Bristow May89-Feb91 Bristow May97-Nov15 pictured at De Kooy, Netherlands during Heldair show rtn to UK after ending Dutch SAR contract. str at Norw... picture stored at Norwich  OY-HUF: Airgreenland;
Mayor inspection at Nuuk |
No longer with this org.
