National statistics

Search and rescue helicopter bi-annual statistics: April to September 2020

Civilian search and rescue helicopter activity statistics in the United Kingdom, from April to September 2020.

From:
Department for Transport and Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Published
27 January 2021

Documents

Search and rescue helicopter statistics: Map of tasking locations by base and category

PDF, 1.05 MB, 3 pages

Search and rescue helicopter bi-annual statistics: April to September 2020 tables

ZIP, 862 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Statistics on civilian search and rescue helicopter (SARH) activity in the United Kingdom, based on details of taskings recorded by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).

During April to September 2020:

  • there were 1,322 civilian SARH taskings.
  • Prestwick base was the busiest of the 10 bases, responding to 200 taskings
  • 48% of taskings involved rescue or recovery
  • Land and coastal based taskings accounted for 46% and 43% of all taskings respectively, with 11% of taskings being maritime
  • 695 people were rescued
  • 169 people assisted across all taskings
  • 437 (33%) taskings took place in beach/cliff areas
  • 187 (14%) in mountainous areas
  • 147 (11%) tasked to vessels in distress
  • 551 (42%) recorded as other

There was a particular drop in taskings in April 2020 (64 taskings) compared to April 2019 (233 taskings). This captures the impact on SARH taskings of national lockdown in response to COVID-19.

There was an increase in taskings in August 2020 (365 taskings) compared to August 2019 (295 taskings). This was driven by an increase in beach-based taskings. This may be related to summer 2020 travel behaviour and preference for domestic holidays in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Notes and guidance

Notes and definitions and guidance about quality of these statistics is available.

Interactive dashboard

Explore the data via our interactive search and rescue helicopter statistics dashboard covering SARH taskings from April 2015 onwards.

Changes to these statistics

The department is reviewing the frequency of the search and rescue helicopter statistical series and is proposing to reduce it from two publications a year to one annual release in the summer. The next biannual statistics release for April to September 2021 will not be impacted by this review, and will still be released.

We welcome any feedback from users on the proposed new timings (including any negative impact of the reduced frequency) and presentation of the statistics.

Contact us

Search and rescue helicopter statistics

Email SARH.stats@dft.gov.uk

Public enquiries 020 7944 4847

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Published 27 January 2021