Press Release

Issued by Babcock Mission Critical Services Espana.

February 24, 2015

Inaer is pleased to announce that the Minister of Public Works, Ana Pastor, officially presented the EC225, Helimer 401 yesterday. This modern aircraft replaces the Sikorsky S-61N, known as the Helimer Galicia, which has been used for rescue services for over 20 years at the airport in La Coruña.

The EC225 manufactured by Airbus Helicopters and operated by INAER has an operational range of 220 nautical miles and a 21 passenger capacity. The aircraft has a five person crew and can reach a cruising altitude of 20,000 feet and a cruising speed of 262 kilometers per hour, with a total in-flight range of over five hours.

The aircraft was transferred to the rescue base in La Coruña on 7 August 2014 in order for the pilots and ground crew to initiate the gradual start-up process of the aircraft's regular operations, including the crew's training and adaptation to the new aircraft. The aircraft has been fully operational since 12 February this year.

During this transition period, the Sikorsky S-61 has continued to operate from La Coruña and will continue to provide maritime rescue services as necessary as a back-up unit for the fleet to cover occasions of inoperability of other aircraft due to maintenance work and other causes.

Over the past year, maritime rescue teams in Galicia have provided assistance to 783 people in 484 maritime emergencies. The Minister also highlighted Spain's maritime rescue work throughout the entire country, which covers over 8,000 kilometers of coastline and an area of 1,500,000 km2.

With this new helicopter providing better performance and equipped with the latest rescue technology, SASEMAR hopes to improve rescue services in one of the most demanding regions in terms of maritime safety, with a high traffic volume of ships of all types and adverse meteorological conditions for navigation.