The end of an era, the start of another

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team introductory walk round of the S-92 helicopte

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This spring sees the end of the RAF providing search and rescue helicopter support to Mountain Rescue Teams.

The familiar yellow Sea King search and rescue helicopters are around 30 years old and will stop flying after being replaced by the red and white S-92 helicopters operated by Bristow.

On Wednesday (28 January) the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team had the first 6 members to go through familiarisation and training with the new S-92 helicopters before they become operational.

The Team Members travelled to the Bristow base at Humberside Airport, which will service East Lancashire, for the training.

The new helicopters allow for longer flight time, improved technology, increased carrying capacity and improved reliability. The new helicopters will be on call 24/7, matching our own commitments to the local communities in East Lancashire.

You will see these flying over East Lancashire at some point as they will train in our area, and if you see them after April they may just be on an emergency call out with us.

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team (RPMRT) is a registered charity (Number 508209) made up entirely of volunteers. We are called out through the 999 system and carry out search and rescue duties over 350 square miles of East Lancashire, Pendle, Rossendale and parts of Greater Manchester. We are called out by and work alongside Lancashire Constabulary, Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service, and Lancashire and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services, as well as helping out neighbouring teams as requested.