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Air Greenland's SAR helicopters to be upgraded with new equipments

 

Air Greenland and the The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) have entered into an agreement to equip the SAR helicopters with advanced systems that will make it easier to locate distressed persons using infrared cameras (FLIR) and night vision goggles (NVG).

 

The agreement between DALO and Air Greenland A/S for the acquisition of FLIR and NVG capabilities for the H225 SAR helicopters was recently finalized, and the process of acquiring the systems has now begun.

 

The new systems will enhance the SAR readiness efforts during search and rescue missions, as the helicopters will be equipped with infrared cameras that can detect heat emissions from people and objects both on land and at sea. Additionally, the crew will receive night vision goggles, making it easier and safer to operate under low light conditions, including at night.

 

"These systems can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of the SAR readiness in situations where time is a critical factor and can mean the difference between life and death," says Air Greenland's CEO, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, who is pleased that the agreement is now in place.

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"First and foremost, I would like to thank both the Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Agency and our negotiators in the newly established Special Operations Department for the good dialogue and the conclusion of the agreement.

It has long been a wish from Air Greenland's H225 helicopter crew to implement these systems, as it will improve the chances of quickly locating distressed persons," he says, adding:

"The joy over the agreement was also met with jubilation, and that reaction says it all, and we look forward to the systems being put into use," adds Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

 

Colonel Klaus Qvist, Director Air and Space Division, at The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, also expresses great satisfaction that the agreement is in place.

Klaus H. Qvist

"We are very pleased that we have now reached this milestone in terms of ensuring an important quality boost to the SAR readiness in Greenland, and we look forward to Air Greenland now being able to start acquiring and establishing this capacity – so it can help solve the task," says Klaus Qvist.

The coordination of the establishment of the systems will take place between Air Greenland and Arctic Command and will be supported by DALO as needed. The systems are expected to be implemented during 2025 and are expected to be fully operational by March 2026.

AGL 11432 Ned Dawson Air Greenland

Facts

In 2020, Air Greenland and The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, DALO, entered into an agreement that Air Greenland's H225 helicopters would be part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) readiness used in search and rescue missions in Greenland. The SAR helicopter is used for so-called sharp missions and is used by the Greenland Police, the Health Service, and Arctic Command, which coordinates the missions.

The SAR team on Air Greenland's H225 helicopter consists of eight pilots and eight hoist operators, based in Kangerlussuaq, with one of the operators rotating to perform the hoist operator function on the H155 SAR helicopter in Narsarsuaq.

The H225 crew is on SAR duty 24/7-365 with four men on duty at a time, along with mechanics who maintain the helicopters. The H155 helicopter in Narsarsuaq has a crew of three on duty from 8-16 year-round.

FLIR (Forward looking InfraRed)

The EC225 SAR configuration supports the installation of the FLIR system. The same FLIR system is seen on several of the Defence's platforms and enables the identification of people in terrain and water based on heat emissions.

This allows for more effective identification of the target for the operation, as the current identification method is solely based on visibility from the cockpit and cabin.

It can be very difficult to identify people in terrain and water, which can delay the rescue of an injured person as the search phase becomes longer.

NVG – (Night Vision Goggles)

The use of NVG is widespread on several of the Defence's platforms and allows for safe operation in low light conditions.

By using NVG, the operation can be carried out safely in low light conditions, enabling operation and assistance to distressed persons in more cases than with the current equipment.

Therefore, NVG is considered an important tool in the effort to establish a more robust SAR readiness that can operate under poorer light and weather conditions than is currently the case.