Bristow Helicopters has held a traditional topping out ceremony to mark the construction of its search and rescue helicopter base at Humberside airport, which has now reached full height.

The base will house two SAR helicopters along with crews and support teams. It is due to become fully operational in April 2015, when Bristow takes over helicopter search and rescue services throughout the UK on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The Humberside base is one of a number of facilities being developed by the operator with its infrastructure delivery partner Balfour Beatty at commercial airports around the UK.

Samantha Willenbacher, Bristow's SAR director, says the ceremony signifies considerable progress: “The base here at Humberside was the first of our new builds to get under way, so it is great to see it really taking shape and reaching this exciting stage in its construction.

“Balfour Beatty and the companies working with them are doing an excellent job for us here and at the other bases we are building, and I would like to thank the management of Humberside airport for their support and co-operation.”

With sustainability in mind, all enhanced bases will include technologies such as PV solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems. Six other SAR helicopter bases are being redeveloped, with construction already initiated at Inverness and Caernarfon. The programme will continue until early 2017.