To do with CHC.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Yellow-Sea-King-Helicopters-Being-Replaced-By-Consortium-That-Will-Operate-White-And-Orange-Choppers/Article/201002215544915?lid=ARTICLE_15544915_YellowSeaKingHelicoptersBeingReplacedByConsortiumThatWillOperateWhiteAndOrangeChoppers&lpos=searchresultsEnd Of The Iconic Yellow Sea King Chopper
5:59pm UK, Tuesday February 09, 2010
Geoff Meade, defence correspondent
Britain's iconic bright yellow Sea King rescue helicopters - recently seen in action in the West Cumbria floods - are soon to disappear.
The Ministry of Defence has named a private consortium to take over provision of the military-run emergency service.
After more than 40 years, the RAF and Royal Navy aircraft that have literally saved hundreds of lives among shipwrecked sailors and stranded mountaineers, are being replaced.
The Soteria consortium is to operate brand-new white and orange helicopters from 2012.
Under a Private Finance Initiative worth £6bn the new service will be flown by a mixture of civilian and forces pilots.
Soteria includes French defence firm Thales, CHC Helicopters, Royal Bank of Scotland and helicopter-maker Sikorsky.
The consortium had to promise to retain all 12 search-and-rescue stations around Britain.
As well as improving reliability, the changeover will free up military pilots for operational duty in Afghanistan.
Last year the head of the RAF told Sky News a shortage of crews, not aircraft, was the main impediment to providing more airlift to troops fighting the Taliban.
