HM Coastguard has opened two new Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter bases at Oban, Scotland, and Carlisle, England, to boost emergency response during the busy summer months. Each base will house two AgustaWestland AW189 rescue helicopters capable of taking off within 15 minutes of a call between 9 am and 9 pm from April to September. The Carlisle base began operation over the Easter weekend, following the launch of the Oban base on 15 March. Both sites feature modern hangars, operational planning rooms, offices and crew rest areas. The move is part of the UK’s £1.6 billion Second Generation Search and Rescue Aviation Programme, which uses historic incident data to locate high‑demand areas. Senior Responsible Owner Mark Bradley and Chief Coastguard Paddy O’Callaghan highlighted that the new bases will cut transit times and expand fleet capacity. The agency urges the public to be aware of coastal hazards and to call 999 if in distress.
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