Information
This helicopter was constructed in 2001. It has served as primary EMS helicopter in Gothenburg since 2010.
BackgroundNorrlandsflyg had been operating the Gothenburg EMS helicopter for the County Council in Västra Götaland since February 2002. It used a Sikorsky S-76A (
SE-JUC) for the task, but as a new contract was being negotiated the council called for a more powerful helicopter. Norrlandsflyg won the new contract.
A nine year old American ex-VIP S-76C+ was acquired by the County Council and it went through an extensive EMS upgrade and a re-painting program at Keystone Helicopter Corporation in the US prior to arriving in Sweden.
Entering serviceSE-JUX, known by the callsign Lifeguard 5920, replaced
SE-JUC as EMS helicopter in Gothenburg in March 2010. It responded to its first emergency call on 26 March. The helicopter was owned by the council and operated by Norrlandsflyg.
New operatorOn 1 November 2011 a new company called Norrlandsflyg Ambulans acquired Norrlandsflyg's EMS operation in Gothenburg. Norrlandsflyg was being acquired by the
Swedish Maritime Administration, but the EMS segment was not included in the deal. The new company inherited the primary EMS helicopter in Gothenburg and a backup S-76A (
SE-JUS). Norrlandsflyg Ambulans is a subsidiary to Scandinavian Helicopter Group.
Svensk LuftambulansOn 1 July 2015 the operations of
SE-JUX, and its associated staff, was transferred from Norrlandsflyg Ambulans to HEMS federation
Svensk Luftambulans (SLA). The helicopter joined a SLA's fleet that consisted of a temporary EC135 (
F-GYED). The operator had two EC 145 T2s on order, with an additional purchase option for eight more aircraft. The two-pilot S-76C+ remained in service in Gothenburg, but its backup S-76 (
SE-JUS) was retired.
RetirementOn 1st of June 2018
SE-JUX was replaced by a brand new AW169 (
SE-JSJ), operated by
Babcock Scandinavian AirAmbulance. The S-76 was flown to Patria Helicopter's maintenance facility at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm following the retirement.
Shortly after its retirement,
SE-JUX was sold to the United States of America, with the intention to continue as an EMS helicopter in south-eastern USA. It was transported by truck from Stockholm to Gothenburg's harbour in late September 2018, after which it was sent on a ship to Baltimore.
AfterlifeThe helicopter obtained the American registration N911UK in September 2018. It entered service with Monroe County Sheriffs Office in Key West.