Milestone Aviation Group has closed seven of 12 helicopter leases to Bristow Helicopters Limited, an affiliate of the Bristow Group. The helicopters will be used for civilian search and rescue (SAR) services when Bristow Helicopters takes over delivery of UK SAR services on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in 2015.
Milestone will provide Bristow 11 Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and one AgustaWestland AW189, which have a combined value of more than US$420 million.
“The announcement is the culmination of three years working with Bristow on this bid, and represents a textbook example of a successful long-term partnership,” said Milestone chairman and CEO Richard Santulli. “We are pleased to do our part to support Bristow and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as they work to save lives throughout the UK.”