AAR Granted 10-Year Search & Rescue Contract In Falkland Islands By UK MOD

(RTTNews) - AAR (AIR) said that its Airlift division has been awarded a contract by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for Search & Rescue or SAR and Support Helicopter services in the Falkland Islands. The contract is valued at approximately $275 million or approximately 180 million pounds.

AAR Airlift, together with British International Helicopters (BIH) and Air Rescue Systems (ARS), will provide a combined SAR and Support Helicopter service to the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) operations. The program will include AgustaWestland AW-189 SAR helicopters, Sikorsky S-61 support helicopters, flight operations, maintenance, logistics and facilities support at the Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime region.

The mission includes all-weather SAR, helicopter emergency medical services, rescue hoist operations, passenger and cargo transfers, and night vision imaging systems. Readiness states vary from 15 minutes to 60 minutes response and require a 24/7/365 alert posture. Performance on the 10-year contract will begin in April 2016.