HELICOPTER COVER THE Department of Trade and Industry has placed a contract with Bristow Helicopters Ltd.

for the provision of a Whirlwind Series III helicopter for SAR work. The helicopter, which is based at Mansion, Kent, is under the control of H.M. Coastguard. The service was introduced in June and will continue till December, 1972.

Thr Ministry of Defence are providing base facilities at Mansion and are assisting in the training of the pilots.

The decision to provide a helicopter for civil SAR work follows recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on the Marine Search and Rescue Organisation of the United Kingdom (THE LIFE-BOAT, July, 1970, page 172).

Announcing the Government's decision to provide a helicopter service, Mr. Anthony Grant, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, said in reply to a Parliamentary question on 24th March, 1971: 'I have decided to provide a civil air/sea rescue service from Mansion for a trial period commencing this summer and continuing until the end of 1972. My Department will shortly be inviting tenders from commercial helicopter operators for this contract.

The service will be under the control of H.M.

Coastguard which is responsible for the coordination of civil marine search and rescue.'.