The centre is responsible for coordinating all Maritime & Coastguard AgencySearch and Rescue helicopters The civil ARCC has no authority to task RAF mountain rescue teams. It monitors rescues in the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Region, which extends to 30 degrees west in longitude, and from 45 to 61 degrees north latitude, excluding the Republic of Ireland. Sikorsky S-92 helicopters can operate in excess of 250 miles from their base, with an endurance of over four hours. AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters can operate in excess of 200 miles from their base, with an endurance of over four hours. Fareham has no helicopter squadrons, however it controls rescue helicopters at:
The RAF Search and Rescue Force began in 1941, mainly rescuing aircrew from ditched aircraft. In 1997, the two control centres in Plymouth and Edinburgh were combined into one site at RAF Kinloss. In March 2016 ownership of tasking search and rescue aircraft transferred from the RAF to HM Coastguard based at the National Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham, Hampshire.
Preparedness
Coastguard helicopters are on standby 24 hours a day to assist those in difficulty, both at sea and over land. Helicopter crews are at 15 minutes notice from 8am until 10pm, extending to 45 minutes notice from 10pm until 8am overnight.
Control centre
The control centre is manned by HM Coastguard, who operate long-range HF communication equipment. And coordinating the tasking of helicopters following requests from the emergency services. With an area of responsibility spanning almost 1 million square miles, the ARCC deals with incidents across the whole of the UK out to halfway across the North Atlantic.
Personnel
ARCC coordinating staff come from a variety of backgrounds within the aviation and military community and work very closely with the Coastguard, Police, Ambulance Authorities and Fire & Rescue Services.
Incidents
During recent years the ARCC has assisted with rescues during the Sheffield floods, the Grayrigg Rail Crash and the Boscastle floods, and deals with over 2000 incidents each year.
The NMOC is also home to the UK Cospas-SarsatMission Control Centre. This is the centre that detects emergency beacons within the UK Search and Rescue Region using an advanced computer system. Maritime distress beacon information is passed to the Coastguard authorities but terrestrial alerts are investigated by the UKMCC, often requiring the use of SAR helicopters to pinpoint the beacon's position.
