CHC Helicopter will provide search and rescue (SAR), aeromedical evacuation (AME) and crash response services for the Royal Australian Navy from HMAS Albatross in Nowra under an interim 15-month contract, the company announced on 7 May.
The services will be delivered until the proposed commencement of an Australian Defence Force-wide contract in 2018.
CHC Helicopter has delivered an AW139 helicopter to Nowra from its global pool of SAR assets to fulfil the contract. The aircraft is compliant and certified to the latest standards for crash resistance and has been used for similar SAR services in the UK.
The AW139 aircraft will provide SAR coverage for all naval helicopter operations in support of aircrew training and Royal Australian Navy fleet exercises in the local sea training areas.
The company now provides SAR, AME and crash response services to Royal Australian Air Force, the army and navy.
