Bristow World 2013 SAR Special Edition 1

WITHIN THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF ASSUMING OPERATIONS FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) SERVICES AT SUMBURGH

TO BEGIN GAP SAR SERVICE IN JUNE 2013, BRISTOW CONDUCTED FOUR RESCUE OPERATIONS. OUR TEAMS PROVED

THEIR METTLE AND DEMONSTRATED THAT THE FUTURE OF SAR WAS INDEED IN SAFE AND RESPECTFUL HANDS. A MONTH

LATER, THE BASE AT STORNOWAY BEGAN OPERATIONS. BOTH BASES ARE OPERATED ON BEHALF OF THE MARITIME AND

COASTGUARD AGENCY (MCA).

The official openings of the Sumburgh and Stornoway facilities

were marked by moving ceremonies in which Bristow executives

accepted the assignment on behalf of MCA from the previous

provider. Numerous transitioning crew members and support

personnel were welcomed into the Bristow family, where their

long-term service and expertise is recognized as invaluable

to the new contract. Now we are preparing for the next phase

of duty: assuming the full UK SAR contract in 2015. Much is

being done to ensure that we are ready to answer the call of the

scramble bell from all 10 bases when it becomes our solemn

duty in another year. “Bristow will meet the same high standards

for response time, personal commitment and quality of service

that UK residents have experienced with the military,” says

Bristow Helicopters Managing Director Mike Imlach.

“Our top priority is to put the most qualified teams in our

helicopters and on the ground. As we prepare to take over

service from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN),

we are looking to ensure the continuity of excellent service by

bringing over pilots, engineers and rear crews to Bristow in a

managed transition process.” The Bristow SAR team recalls

the meetings with the RAF as a “meeting of the minds.” “When

we entered their facilities, we were impressed by walls that are

covered in history,” says Bristow Global Standards Manager

Chris Bond. “We are following in their footsteps, building on their

extraordinary experience of 60 years for the Navy and 70 years

for the Air Force. We want to take on that history and take it

forward to the future.”

BRISTOWWORLDU K S A R S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

BRISTOW ANSWERS THE CALL OF THE

SCRAMBLE BELL

Story continued on page 4

2 Bristow World 2013 SAR Special Edition

MEMORABLE RESCUES

The first civil certified all-weather SAR S61, G-BDOC, complete with duplex SAR auto hover

and the latest Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system, arrived at Sumburgh in January 1985

and became affectingly known as Oscar Charlie. The aircraft became part of the community

and in 2007 when it was replaced, its successor retained the name. Over many years of

service, Oscar Charlie has been involved in numerous memorable rescues.

On 5 November 1985 the Sumburgh unit was tasked with a medical rescue from a container

ship 30 miles from Shetland. Strong northerly winds of 60 knots and a heavy swell made

it a particularly challenging rescue. Immediately on completion of the mission the crew was

tasked to another incident to evacuate 45 personnel from a rig in the Forties Field after the

installation shutdown. In January 1993, the MV Braer was an oil tanker which ran aground

off the coast of Shetland in a storm causing its engine to flood with water. Given the terrible

weather conditions we were called to conduct a challenging evacuation all 14 non-essential

crew from the vessel. In November of that year, the Sumburgh unit assisted the MV Lunohods,

a Russian fish factory ship which ran aground on rocks below Bressay point in a 70 knots

storm. Bristow’s S61N, Oscar Charlie, was called to the scene and lifted all 60 plus crew to

safety as huge waves crashed over the wreck. A record 32 survivors were rescued in one lift

– a record which survives to this day. The rescue saw winchman Friedie Manson awarded the

Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his bravery.

As one would expect, the Sumburgh unit has been no stranger to tragedy in its 30 years of

SAR. In 1988, Oscar Charlie struggled to get to survivors of the Piper Alpha disaster as flames

of over 100 metres raged on the platform. The Sumburgh unit assisted in rescuing survivors

of the disaster in which 165 workers lost their lives. The incident was followed by the Cullen

Inquiry which marked a dramatic step change in the oil and gas industry’s approach to safety.

In November 1997 the merchant vessel Green Lily got into difficulties in a force 12 gale with

15 crewmembers on board. With the vessel foundering, five crewmembers were taken off by

the Lerwick Lifeboat, a feat honoured by the coxswain receiving the RNLI’s Gold Medal, its

highest award for gallantry. With the Green Lily very close to the rocky shoreline, the remaining

crew had to rely on the SAR helicopter for rescue.

In mountainous seas, Billy Deacon was winched down

to the deck of the vessel. Once on board he placed the

remaining crewmembers, two at a time, in the rescue strops

and they were all winched to the safety of the helicopter. As

the helicopter was in the process of recovering Billy who

was alone on the deck and with the ship now on the rocks,

he was washed overboard and engulfed by the waves. In

recognition of Billy’s outstanding courage and bravery

in the most severe and demanding conditions he was

posthumously awarded the George Medal. The incident

raised the bar in search and rescue safety standards. Bristow went on to design the twin

hoist which is now a standard piece of SAR kit across the industry. Bristow also established

the Billy Deacon Award in his honour and memory, awarded each year to winchmen or winch

operators from the Coastguard, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for meritorious service during

SAR helicopter operations from UK SAR bases.

MICHAEL BIRLEY, WINCH OPERATOR AT THE SUMBURGH UNIT FROM 1983 UNTIL 1984 RECOUNTS WHAT THE EARLIER WEEKS WERE LIKE :

“Several of us who made up the first SAR crew had been working

for Bristow as BP funded SAR winch operators on the Forties

Bravo and Delta Production Platforms in the North Sea and going

to the aid of ships or helicopters in the vicinity.

“It was good news when we were told that Bristow Helicopters had

won the contract for the Sumburgh SAR service. The first Chief

Pilot to be appointed was a gentleman called Gordon Mitchell.

“We flew from Aberdeen to Sumburgh on November 30th

ready to commence operations on December 1st. Having spent

several years working offshore in the North Sea we were used

to bad weather so Shetland wind and rain was not too much of

a shock for us and of course driving on the largely empty roads

was a great pleasure.

“Our first call out came on 7 December 1983 to escort a

North Scottish S76 helicopter which had reported a technical

problem. Our team of Captain John Whale, co-pilot Paul Martin,

myself as winch operator and Chris Bond as winchman carried

out the mission.

“We occupied two company bungalows located in a place called

Hardbreaks. We would take it in turns to cook dinner each

evening some with more success than others but after a hard

days’ work any hot food was welcome.

“Chris Jackson was the first chief engineer on the unit and he

hailed from Northern Ireland. I believe his wife was kind enough

to prepare Christmas dinner for those of us on duty on December

25th and this was served in the hangar.

“We were not very busy in the beginning but that soon changed.”

CREWS RECOUNT MEMORABLE RESCUES

EARLY DAYS OF SAR AT SUMBURGH

Billy Deacon

Historic photos including Victor Alpha, 2003; Chris Bond in Oscar Charlie, 1984; MV Braer in 1993, and Bristow SAR crew including members from the first Sumburgh mission, John Whale, Paul Martin, Chris Bond and Michael Birley

Bristow World 2013 SAR Special Edition 3

BRISTOW’S TRACK RECORD OF ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY IS UNPARALLELED IN THE INDUSTRY. THE COMPANY’S ENGINEERS HAVE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED THOUSANDS OF INNOVATIONS OVER THE YEARS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEING UTILISED FOR UK SAR SERVICES.

Bristow developed the dual-hoist system in 1998 and worked

with aircraft manufacturers, hoist manufacturers and SAR crew

to hone the technology. Now this equipment brings a new level

of industry-leading, life-saving technology to SAR operators

around the world.

Bristow Helicopters has been collaborating with Sikorsky Aircraft

to further develop the S-92 configuration for search and rescue.

A major advance is implementation of night vision goggle (NVG)

technology, a product once reserved for military use that today

has grown to include civilian applications. Bristow’s new S-92

aircraft was the first type in Europe to be certified for NVG and

have the fist “glass cockpit” – or all-digital instrumentation – to

be certified NVG compatible.

The new S-92s are the first aircraft in Europe to be fit ted

with Trulink® wireless capabilities, in addition to polycom

technology, for communication between the aircraf t and

the crew. A wireless intercom system allows winchmen to

communicate with the aircraft as well as with nearby vessels.

An improved external public address system allows SAR crews to

communicate much more clearly with casualties on the ground.

Inside the aircraft, a medical zone intercom splits the cabin

and cockpit into isolated zones so medical teams can work

on patients without distracting the flight crew. Improved NVG

lighting, including emergency lighting, enables advanced

medical procedures to be carried out on board. The cabins

support advanced medical equipment and can accommodate

more casualties. The aircraft have a new data transfer system

that lets the crew send information about vital signs and a

summary of the patient’s condition to the hospital ahead of the

helicopter’s arrival.

Additional advanced technologies that help deliver critical

capabilities to Bristow’s SAR operations include:

• A full de-icing system that heats the rotor blades and keeps

the engine intakes clear in snow and ice conditions

• Forward-looking infrared and thermal HD imaging camera

technology that enables scanning the entire scene well before

the aircraft arrives over it

• An auto-hover system that enables a steady state of hover

over a target without the need for the pilots to have any

external visual references

The Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW189 aircraft that

Bristow will utilize for the full UK SAR contract will be equipped

with the highest level of technology – all for the purpose of better

serving our mission of saving lives.

After transitioning from fixed wing aeroplanes to helicopters,

Lieutenant Alan Bristow became the first pilot to carry out deck

landings on a naval frigate and a battleship at sea. Lieutenant

Bristow honed his flying skills and served his country proudly

until 1946, when he returned to civilian life to put his helicopter

know-how to work in the private sector. He convinced the rotary

wing manufacturer Westland Aircraft to bring him on as a test

pilot and demonstrator, and things took off from there. The

entrepreneurial Alan Bristow looked for opportunities to build

businesses around his and his colleagues’ flying skills and

knowledge. Following a successful stint in whaling where his

company Air Whaling pioneered the use of helicopters in the

hunt, Bristow turned his attention to the oil and gas industry.

He formed Bristow Helicopters Ltd. (BHL) and pursued service

contracts in the Middle East, South America and other locales.

In time, Bristow Helicopters Ltd. (BHL) became a global

company, based in the UK but serving the energy industry

around the world. Following the sale of his company to Airwork

Ltd., which became British United Airways, Alan Bristow stayed

at the helm to further advance the business. Bristow Helicopters

has grown with the oil and gas industry in the North Sea and

elsewhere, earning a reputation for safely transporting people

and materiel to and from the rigs in conditions that often can be

quite inhospitable. The company has proudly served the offshore

oil transport industry for 57 years as an innovator and industry

leader. BHL provides helicopters and highly skilled people, many

of whom are ex-service men and women from the Royal Air Force

or Royal Navy.

Bristow Helicopters first answered the call to provide search

and rescue (SAR) services in the UK from Manston in

Kent, in 1971. Bristow is in operation today at the Sumburgh

and Stornoway bases and is gearing up for the full UK SAR

contract commencing in 2015. Throughout its history, Bristow

Helicopters has been known for its unyielding commitment

to safety. The company has introduced many safety and

performance innovations – technologies and processes – that

have become invaluable standards in the helicopter industry.

Bristow Helicopters is part of the Bristow Group. Bristow

believes it has the best employees in the world who strive daily

for operational excellence in everything they do. Bristow has

flown all over the world in every extreme of climate and terrain,

and has enormous expertise that can be brought to bear to any

operation. A company with a rich heritage, Bristow Group is

working hard to earn the confidence of its customers every day

BRISTOW HELICOPTERS TAKES FLIGHTFRO M THE M ERCHANT NAVY TO THE

ROYAL NAVAL VO LU NTEER RES ERVE

D U R I N G W O R LD W A R I I , A YO U N G

ALAN BRISTOW STEERED HIS MILITARY

CAREER TO BECOME A NAVAL AVIATOR.

BRISTOW SAR FLEET EQUIPPED WITH

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

Bristow Helicopters Managing Director Mike Imlach

BRISTOW ANSWERS THE CALL OF THE

SCRAMBLE BELLCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

bristowgroup.com

bristowsar.com

That future includes new bases, new equipment and new technology. Bristow will operate from 10

new bases that are independent of military infrastructure and services. Each base will have two

aircraft, and two spare aircraft will provide backup across the bases as needed. “Locating the aircraft

near SAR high-risk areas – along with the new aircraft with increased capabilities and high levels of

availability – will enable the MCA to surge up to seven SAR aircraft simultaneously in the mainland UK

to a single SAR incident,” says SAR Infrastructure Coordinator Natalie Dillon.

The design of the facilities has involved a strategic process to ensure operational excellence and

functionality for pilots, SAR rear crew and engineers. What’s more, the design has focused on

ecological sustainability, where we are looking to achieve a BREEAM rating of “very good,” which

meets with government policy.

Bristow is also building strong engineering teams in order to deliver a world-class leading SAR service

and to provide at least 98 percent service availability. The Engineering Department will be required to

ensure that the SAR helicopters are at constant readiness.

Bristow’s contract will be managed by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, and every aspect of

Bristow’s activities will be directed by the MCA. Bristow and MCA also are reaching out to communities

where the bases will be located.

“WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MCA TO COORDINATE OUR OUTREACH TO

ENSURE THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS UNDERSTAND HOW BENEFICIAL THIS WILL BE

TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, NOT ONLY FOR THE QUALITY OF SAR SERVICES

WE’LL BE DELIVERING, BUT ALSO FOR THE JOBS AND REVENUES THAT WILL

RESULT FROM OUR INVESTMENT,” SAYS GLOBAL SAR MANAGER SIMON TYE.

In responding to the UK government’s selection of Bristow as the future SAR provider, nothing will be

left to chance. “This is an incredibly important service, and we are privileged to serve the people of

the United Kingdom,” says Senior Vice President of Operations Jeremy Akel. “We are committed to

perform up to the standard that’s been set forth.”

Sally Toulmin

SAR HR Manager

Ben Clarke

SAR Captain

Tony Campbell

SAR Rearcrew Training Coordinator

Natalie Dillon

SAR Infrastructure Coordinator

Ian Middleton

SAR Engineering Manager

Simon Tye

Global SAR Development Manager

Samantha Willenbacher

Director UK SAR

Clark Broad

SAR Flight Operations Manager

Bristow SAR Base