The South Coast is about to get a serious upgrade in sea rescue! A brand new £20 million helicopter, the red and white AW189, is set to join the HM Coastguard fleet at Lee-on-Solent.
New £20 Million Rescue Chopper Touches Down
This high-tech AW189 is the first of two that will soon be patrolling coastal skies. It’s expected to arrive any day now and will spend a few months honing its skills with training missions.
Ready to Take to the Skies from April 2017
Come April, the AW189 will officially replace older models for operational duties, stepping up the region’s search and rescue game. Until then, the trusty AW139s will keep Lee-on-Solent’s rescue missions running smoothly.
Watch this space – the South Coast’s rescue services just got a high-tech boost!
