Strengthened land-based helicopter preparedness in Greenland

[Saithan]

- The Armed Forces and Air Greenland sign Search and Rescue (SAR) contract.
November 30, 2020 - Kl. 11.30

On 25 November 2020, the Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) signed an agreement on land-based helicopter preparedness in Greenland with Air Greenland A / S. Air Greenland has handled the task since 2012 and if all options in the new agreement are exercised, the red helicopters from the Greenlandic airline will solve the task until 2032.

The new agreement will significantly strengthen rescue capacity with two newly purchased Airbus H225s in Kangerlussuaq and a Bell 212 in Narsarsuaq, which will be replaced by an Airbus H155 helicopter during 2021. The newer helicopters have up to twice the range compared to the old ones, just as speed, precision and the ability to operate in extreme weather conditions are significantly improved.

In connection with the conclusion of the contract, the head of the FMI Air Military Division, Colonel Jacob Alexa, states:

"We are very satisfied with the agreement that we have negotiated in place with Air Greenland. First and foremost because the agreement meets the operational requirements and needs formulated by the Defense Command. But to a large extent also, as we will in future have a strengthened capacity, provided by a supplier who for a number of years has demonstrated that they can solve the task. In such a challenging operating environment as Greenlandic, experience and continuity actually mean something. It represents Air Greenland ”

The agreement with Air Greenland A / S is used by the Greenland Police, the Greenland Health Authorities and the Armed Forces via Arctic Command, which together with the Police has the overall responsibility for inspecting and coordinating all rescue operations, regardless of whether it is on the high seas, inland, on land. or in the air.

Air Greenland's director Jacob Nitter Sørensen states in connection with the conclusion of the contract:

“I am pleased that we have succeeded in getting a good agreement on the Greenlandic SAR contingency in place for the coming years, which provides security for all parties. The agreement has made it possible to maintain our investment in the two H225 helicopters we purchased last year for the purpose. In addition, I am pleased that with the agreement we can now maintain and add new local competencies to and continue our years-long, close cooperation with both Danish and Greenlandic authorities ”.

The contract was signed by the head of the FMI, Lieutenant General Flemming Lentfer, as one of his last official duties before he transferred to the area of the Defense Command as Chief of Defense per. December 1, 2020. Subsequently, the contract was transported to Greenland, where the director of Air Greenland, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, signed on behalf of the supplier.

Air Greenland's director Jacob Nitter Sørensen and Mogens E. Jensen CFO of Air Greenland.

Director of the Ministry of Defense's Materiel and Procurement Agency Flemming Lentfer.


The task has been assigned to Air Greenland A / S as a so-called “direct award” with reference to section 23 of the Public Procurement Act.
The new agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2021



Facts about the H225 and H155 helicopters
The new SAR contract heralds a new era for the SAR emergency services in Greenland, which have so far been operated by the well-known S61s. These are now retired after 50 years of faithful service in Greenlandic aviation. Instead, the state-of-the-art and especially SAR-suitable H225 helicopters are deployed, which means significant improvements for emergency preparedness. Air Greenland's Flight Manager John Nielsen comments on the new type:

“The new helicopters give Greenland a state-of-the-art SAR contingency with a robust helicopter rescue capacity all year round and in virtually all kinds of weather. The noise level is smaller, its operating radius is significantly larger and it is compatible with the most modern operational accessories available for SAR contingency, which benefits both the customer, users and the operator. ”

The extension of the contract and the transition to the H225 helicopter type has also meant that Air Greenland can create the framework for nine new local jobs in Central, North and South Greenland.

The H225 has room for 19 passengers on board. It is flown by two pilots, has a top speed of 262 Km / h and can fly at altitudes of up to 6095 meters.

The H155 has room for 13 passengers on board and can be flown with a pilot. It has a top speed of 277 Km / h and can fly at altitudes up to 4572 meters.

Styrket landbaseret helikopterberedskab i Grønland

- Forsvaret og Air Greenland underskriver Search and Rescue (SAR)-kontrakt.

fmi.dk