A NEW coastguard helicopter from the UK was the focus of a training exercise in Guernsey yesterday evening.

The St Peter Port Lifeboat and the Sarnia harbour work boat took part in the winching exercise which involved transferring people to and from the helicopter.

The AW189 will be coming into service from 1 April and will be predominantly based in Lee-on Solent.

Before it enters into service it is carrying out exercises with key stakeholders along the south coast, including Guernsey.

Assistant harbour master Jerome Davis said it was a good opportunity for all crews to get used to the new aircraft.

‘Exercises like this are very important, especially this one, because if we need a helicopter it will more than likely be the AW189,’ he said.

The helicopter has a cruising speed of 145 knots and maximum speed of 169 knots.

It has a 300ft twin hoist with a maximum load of 600lbs.

Words courtesy of the Guernsey Press, Photos by Tony Rive

Read more at http://guernseypress.com/news/2017/03/24/lifeboat-crew-train-with-new-uk-coastguard-helicopter/#dmPh3Le5XLRupAMt.99