Last weekend Bristow, provider of the UK’s Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter Service, proudly revealed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would be taking to the skies over North Wales to enhance “the capability of air search and rescue operations”, which UK Maritime Minister Kelly Tolhurst hailed as something that would assist coastguard teams “save even more lives”.

“We will stop at nothing to keep people safe on our shores and in our seas, exploring new and innovative ways to further bring search and rescue into the 21st century,” she said. “Drones have the potential to help our coastguard teams help save even more lives so I’m excited we’re pioneering these advances in the UK.”

Bristow, which runs the fleet of Schiebel Camcopter S-100 drones, said they were used as “safety overwatch in support of search and rescue missions” for the first time last weekend…. FULL STORY