The craftsmen at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Coatesville are playing an indirect part in search and rescue missions in the United Kingdom.

Sikorsky this week delivered the first of 11 Sikorsky S-92 helicopters to Bristow Helicopters Ltd. to be used in search and rescue service at 10 bases across the UK.

“We are very excited to receive the first aircraft from Sikorsky for our U.K. search and rescue fleet,” Jonathan Baliff, Bristow’s president and CEO said in a Sept. 8 ceremony at the Coatesville Sikorsky facility.  “With more than 60 S-92 helicopters already in our inventory, we have come to know and appreciate the aircraft’s mission capabilities.”

Bristow’s contract to provide search and rescue helicopter service in the UK runs through 2026.  The 22-aircraft fleet will include 11 of the Skiorsky S-92 helicopters fitted with state-of-the-art technology.  These will be stationed at Inverness, Manston, Prestwick, Caernarfon, Humberside, Newquay, St Athan, Lee-on-Solent, Sumburgh and Stornoway.

“At Sikorsky, we stand behind our mission statement: We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere…every time,” said Carey Bond, president of Sikorsky’s Commercial Systems and Services. “Bristow has a long history of search and rescue, and we are proud to support their efforts in the United Kingdom to bring people home. Sikorsky would also like to thank the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Bristow as the operator for their choice of the S-92 helicopter for this very critical mission.”

Sikorsky and Bristow have done business for more than 40 years. The Bristow fleet currently features more than 160 Sikorsky aircraft of various types.  More than 7,000 people have been rescued by Bristow’s crews and helicopters and the firm was recognized with the Queen’s Award for Innovation for its technical developments.

This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the initial delivery of the S-92 helicopter. These are used in search and rescue missions, head of state missions, and transportation for offshore oil and gas crews, utility and airline passengers.

The U.S. Navy recently selected Sikorsky to build a fleet of Marine One helicopters, based on the FAA-certified S-92 aircraft, to transport the Office of the President beginning late in 2020.