Copters’ future is still up in the air
Jan 12 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal
A REPRIEVE granted to RAF Boulmer does not extend to its Search and Research (SAR) helicopters.
The Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that the Northumberland air base would not be scaled down from 2012 as originally intended, having decided that its Air Surveillance and Control System will not be relocated.
However, it was yesterday confirmed that the presence of the A Flight 202 Squadron search and rescue team at Boulmer after 2012 is still in doubt.
Under the initial decision to scale back the base, its Sea King helicopters were the only service proposed to remain at the site. But as reported in The Journal in 2006, the privatisation or “harmonisation” of the nation’s SAR helicopters could instead see the Boulmer team relocated in four years’ time. And the base yesterday confirmed that that remains the case.
Pete Richardson, 202 Squadron Leader, said: “The situation for search and rescue has not changed following yesterday’s announcement. We are hopeful that SAR will remain at Boulmer, but it really is down to the output from the SAR harmonisation programme.”
Decisions arising from the programme are expected in 2009 to 2010 with changes to be implemented in the period from 2012-2017. Sqdn Ldr Richardson yesterday said it is “far too early to say” whether SAR helicopters will remain at Boulmer, given the timescale of the review. But he insisted that whatever the outcome, the region would be no worse off. “The bottom line for people in the North-East is there will be no reduction in SAR capability.”
Northumberland county and Alnwick district councillor Gordon Castle, a former airman at RAF Boulmer, yesterday expressed his hope that SAR helicopters will remain in the district – operated by the military – although he admitted there are no guarantees.
While voicing his delight at the retention of Boulmer, he said: “The SAR is another matter. My view is that it provides such outstandingly good training for service helicopters and it is done so well by the military pilots that one would hope it stays with the military. My hope is that Boulmer will stay as the right place for it but I do not think we can assume that just yet. It is a very important service to the area, what the SAR does is a vitally important public function.”
He pointed out that although the military helicopter’s primary role is rescuing stranded pilots, craft actually spend far more time coming to the aid of members of the public.
Coun Castle added: “I would congratulate The Journal on running a very effective campaign.”
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Options for the future
It proposes to bring together the helicopters which operate at all 12 SAR bases in Britain, through the RAF, Royal Navy and the Maritime Coastguard Agency, on a central contract under one private operator.
The decision to privatise was prompted by the need to replace the military’s Sea King helicopters as well as the 2012 expiry of the contract for Coastguard SAR helicopters.
The programme is assessing whether all 12 bases are needed and whether any could be relocated to provide better cover.
It is also considering which sites are best equipped for the replacement helicopter, and whether SAR aircraft should be operated by the military or civilian parties.
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