Accredited official statistics

Search and rescue helicopter bi-annual statistics: April to September 2021

Civilian search and rescue helicopter activity statistics in the United Kingdom, from April to September 2021.

• From: Department for Transport and Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Published: 15 December 2021

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Search and rescue helicopter maps: April to September 2021

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Search and rescue helicopter statistics: April to September 2021 tables

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Details

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. Based on the feedback received, the next biannual statistics release for April to September 2022 will be the final biannual release. The department is proposing that this will only contain the record level statistics provided in table SARH0112 and an update to the interactive dashboard, which covers all the information usually presented in the other tables, and will not provide an update for the maps document.

We welcome any feedback from users on the proposed presentation of the statistics (including any negative impact of the reduced outputs for the next biannual release).

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 2021:

• there were 1,643 civilian SARH taskings
• Prestwick base was the busiest of the 10 bases, responding to 268 taskings
• 54% of taskings involved rescue or recovery
• land and coastal based taskings accounted for 47% and 38% of all taskings respectively, with 15% of taskings being maritime
• there were 966 people rescued and 212 people assisted across all taskings *July and August were the months with the highest number of taskings, 355 and 346 respectively, consistent with the usual seasonal trend

A total of 438 (27%) taskings took place in beach/cliff areas, 352 (21%) in mountainous areas, 209 (13%) tasked to vessels in distress, and 644 (39%) recorded as other.

The total number of taskings in July 2021 (355 taskings) increased compared to pre-pandemic levels (258 taskings in July 2019). This increase compared to 2019 could also be seen in June, August and September 2021. This was driven by an increase in taskings in coastal and mountain areas. This may be related to summer 2021 travel behaviour and preference for domestic holidays in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Notes and guidance

Notes, definitions and guidance about the 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.

Contact us

Search and rescue helicopter statistics

Email SARH.stats@dft.gov.uk

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Published 15 December 2021