Bristow Nigeria is introducing helicopter rescue and recovery services from Port Harcourt, using an AW139. It will be the first service of its kind in the country and is expected to launch this month. Says regional director Akin Oni: “Bristow is a known leader in providing SAR around the world and we have an unparalleled understanding of what is required in Nigeria. The service is a natural extension of our business transporting personnel offshore that we've provided here for more than 50 years, and demonstrates our continued long-term commitment to the country.”

Meanwhile Bristow Helicopters in the UK is celebrating the first anniversary of its Caernarfon SAR coastguard helicopter base in north Wales commencing operations. The third UK SAR base to commence operations in 2015, Caernarfon has flown more than 500 mission hours and rescued or assisted in excess of 200 people. The base had the highest number of missions in a single month of all of the bases, with 52 tasks in August 2015. Over the last year, Caernarfon has responded to over 300 calls in total.

“It is hard to believe that we have reached the one-year milestone already," says chief pilot Dave Kenyon. “It has been an incredibly busy year that has gone by very quickly. Training with local stakeholders and our own teams is as busy as ever; we operate with the mountain rescue teams, lifeboats and other rescue organisations on a regular basis.

“I count myself lucky to be based at Caernarfon and to have such a great team with me. As we continue to settle into the civilian SAR way of life, I hope that the coming year is as enjoyable as the past one.”