Night-time search and rescue coverage from RAF Valley in Anglesey to be suspended on 15 November
Night-time search & rescue (SAR) helicopter coverage from RAF Valley in Anglesey is being withdrawn until the end of the year. The station will close overnight with effect from 15 November, but the Ministry of Defence says that SAR cover will be provided by neighbouring bases during the six-week closure.
The temporary closure will allow new crews to be trained up as part of a package to restore the number of UK SAR crews from 26 to 28. “We aim for this to be completed by early summer 2010,” said Minister for the Armed Forces Bill Rammell.
“In the meantime we need to implement some temporary measures, but I have every confidence that these can be managed in a way which will not affect the service we provide. It is standard practice that when a SAR station is not operating, the adjacent stations are able to respond.”
