The government takes over Norrlandsflyg

The Swedish Radio reports that the Swedish Government will buy the company Norrlandsflyg and its search and rescue (SAR) business. Norrlandsflyg has been operating the helicopter SAR for the Swedish Maritime Administration since 2002, when the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing started to reduce its SAR alert.

Norrlandsflyg is currently operating all the five SAR stations in Sweden – Skellefteå, Stockholm, Visby, Ronneby and Gothenborg – utilizing seven Sikorsky S-76C/C+/C++ helicopters and roughly 100 people. The government states that the purchase will secure the air- and sea rescue on a long-term basis.

In March this year the Swedish Maritime Administration (the agency responsible for the Swedish SAR) made it official that they intended to take over the SAR operations.
- We have decided to incorporate helicopter services in the Maritime Administration as the existing agreements begin to expire. Norrlandsflyg has managed the operational activities in a safe and professional manner, but now we have chosen a new direction for how we want to conduct business, said Naomi Erickson, Chief Financial Officer of the Maritime Administration back then.

The structure of the new organization is yet to be revealed.