SMA Helicopter Rescue embodied in Sjöfartsverket

SMA Helicopter Rescue, the helicopter branch of the Swedish Maritime Administration, was formally incorporated in the agency today. The structural change means that all rescue helicopters and the 100-person staff gets directly involved in the Maritime Administration instead of the daughter company SMA Helicopter Rescue. The biggest change lies in the change from a civil air operator to a state organisation. All Swedish SAR helicopters will now be operated in "State Flights”, just like the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing, the Swedish Police Wing and the Swedish Coast Guard.

SMA Helicopter Rescue derives from the old helicopter operator Norrlandsflyg, which was established back in 1961. Norrlandsflyg operated the Swedish search and rescue helicopters on behalf of the Swedish Maritime Administration between 2002-2011. Norrlandsflyg was acquired by the Maritime Administration on 1 November 2011. The helicopter division changed name to SMA Helicopter Rescue later the same year.

The Swedish Maritime Administration is now operating a large fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters that are deployed at five SAR stations throughout the country. Seven brand new AgustaWestland AW139s will gradually replace the Sikorskys, with the initial delivery already completed in September 2013. The first AW139 is expected to enter SAR alert in April this year.