§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bases from which search-and-rescue operations are conducted by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force; and what are the type of aircraft deployed at each base and the number of hours each aircraft has flown.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe information is provided in the following tables. The flying hours for individual aircraft are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Total search and rescue flying hours have instead been provided for individual RAF and RN SAR bases for the past three years.
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RN/RAF SAR helicopter assets at February 1991 Base Aircraft RAF Lossiemouth 2 Sea King RAF Leuchars 1 Wessex1 RAF Boulmer 2 Sea King RAF Leconfield 2 Sea King RAF Coltishall 2 Wessex RAF Manston 2 Sea King RNAS Portland 1 Sea King2 RNAS Culdrose 1 Sea King2 RAF Chivenor 1 Wessex1 RAF Brawdy 2 Sea King RAF Valley 2 Wessex RNAS Prestwick 1 Sea King2 1 A second (reserve) Wessex is stationed at both Chivenor and Leuchars to ensure continuous aircraft availability. 2 Back-up aircraft are available from the RNAS squadron resources to ensure continuous aircraft availability.
SAR flying hours Base 1988 1989 1990 RAF Lossiemouth 394 386 409 RAF Leuchars 304 263 221 RAF Boulmer 303 230 263 RAF Leconfield 183 223 259 RAF Coltishall 153 134 131 RAF Manston 159 173 219 RNAS Portland 100 115 120 RNAS Culdrose 223 297 301 RAF Chivenor 213 246 176 RAF Brawdy 266 266 323 RAF Valley 288 340 271 RNAS Prestwick 267 250 301