Peter
Viggers has today expressed his concern at Bristows’ loss
of preferred bidder status for the Ministry of Defence Search
and Rescue contract.
There are twelve Helicopter Search and Rescue bases around
the UK. Eight are operated by the military, (six RAF and
two RN) and four are operated by the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency (MCA) who let contracts for provision of helicopter
services to the private sector. Bristow Helicopters Ltd (BHL)
was successful in bidding for the first of these civil contracts,
Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles, in 1983 and subsequently
in Stornoway, Lee on Solent and Portland. They have retained
all of these contracts through successive competitive re-bids
through the years. However, the company has now lost preferred
bidder status.
Peter said, “I was initially concerned when search
and rescue contracts were awarded to a private company, because
I had thought that the Navy was most appropriate and best
suited to providing this vital service. However, Bristows
have proved themselves to be extremely reliable and have
always done an outstanding job.
“Consequently, I am disconcerted by these developments
and will be pursuing the matter with colleagues.” |
