RAF. Leconfield..

[nutherpe...@yahoo.co.uk]

http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/local/sea-king-helicopters-to-be-replaced-following-government-deal-1-5531637

By Mike Brown
Published on Tuesday 26 March 2013 12:40

Search and Rescue Helicopters based at RAF Leconfield
will no longer operate from the site after a deal was
signed with a US company to replace the Sea King fleet.

The move comes after a £1.6 billion contract for search
and rescue helicopters to be managed by US company
Bristow Helicopters Ltd was signed today (Tuesday 26 March).

The Department for Transport say the new management will
enable the aircraft to reach a larger area of the UK and it
is estimated the response to incidents will be faster.

However George McManus, parliamentary spokesman for Beverley and
Holderness Labour Party said: “This is a real shock.
The yellow Sea King helicopters are an institution in East Yorkshire.
They provide reassurance and a first class service.
It seems there is nothing that this government will not sell
for the sake of profit. Is nothing sacred?”

The new contract will see 22 helicopters operating from 10
locations around the UK.

For more see this Thursday’s Bridlington Free Press...

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21938321

26 March 2013 Last updated at 10:29 Help

The UK's helicopter Search and Rescue operations are being
taken over by a US firm.

The Sea King helicopters of the RAF and Royal Navy are being replaced
by private American helicopters in a 10-year deal worth £1.6bn.

It will end 70 years of military involvement - which most recently
has seen the Duke of Cambridge at the controls.

Howard Wheeldon, an independent defence and aerospace
industry analyst, told Today business presenter Simon Jack
that he was opposed to the deal.

He warned that the move "could bring about a lot of dangers...
a lot of people's lives are at risk here."

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday 26 March 2013.

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[nutherpe...@yahoo.co.uk]

There is some more about why we are switching to
American Sea Rescue here,,,

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/uk.legal/JCGt2OHiRRw

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