UAE Armed Forces Outsource SAR Missions

Falcon Aviation, MCMINNVILLE, Oregon: Falcon Aviation Services of Abu Dhabi signed a two year Search and Rescue (SAR) contract with the UAE Armed Forces. Falcon has selected Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. (EHI), an experienced operator, as their subcontractor to support the SAR requirements. Evergreen brings ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) and an impeccable safety record to the program. 
 
The program will begin Aug. 31, 2006 operating two Bell 412EPs and two Agusta Westland AW139s. The four Evergreen helicopters will be based in three strategic locations, each maintaining 24 hour standby alert. Under the contract, Falcon and Evergreen will be providing both military and civilian SAR services. The aircraft are specially equipped to meet the SAR requirements: rescue hoist, FLIR (forward looking infra red), and night sun. Crews are specially trained for the strenuous land and water conditions that may occur in an SAR mission. 
 
To secure the contract, Falcon, based in the U.A.E., sought out a reliable operator who had SAR and international experience.