Chapter 5 - Military Search and Rescue
                                             
Table 5.2 Callouts and people moved by UK Military Search and Rescue units: 2000 - 2010
The primary role of Search & Rescue units is to recover military aircrew from crashed aircraft. However the vast majority of callouts are to assist the general public.

Royal Navy Search and Rescue helicopters: The Royal Navy's SAR units are 771 Squadron based at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) in Cornwall and the HMS Gannet SAR Flight located at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.

Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopters: RAF Sea King rescue helicopters of Nos. 22 and 202 Squadrons operate from six locations - RAF Boulmer, RAF Valley, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Leconfield, RAF Chivenor and RAF Wattisham.

Other helicopters: 'Other' types of helicopters are primarily Sea King helicopters operated by contractors.

RAF Mountain Rescue Service: The Mountain Rescue Service HQ is based at RAF Valley and coordinates the RAF's four Mountain Rescue Teams (MRT) based at: RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars, RAF Leeming & RAF Valley.

RAF Nimrod: Specially equipped Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft were often used to act as "Top Cover" - an on-scene coordinator for helicopters or ships involved in the rescue operation. The Nimrod aircraft were withdrawn from service in March 2010.
 
Callouts     UK   Helicopters   MRT   Fixed wing aircraft   Ships          
      Total   RN   RAF   Other       Nimrod Other         Civilian   Military  
  2000   1 941   499   1 278   -   92   71 1   -     1 819   122  
  2001   1 763   502   1 115   -   91   54 1   -     1 660   103  
  2002   1 684   436   1 122   -   79   46 1   -     1 586   98  
  2003   1 714   424   1 173   -   80   37 -   -     1 618   96  
  2004   1 638   453   1 079   -   67   37 2   -     1 538   100  
  2005   1 702   478   1 114   -   73   37 -   -     1 610   92  
  2006   1 875   497   1 258   1   86   32 1   -     1 785   90  
  2007   1 973   592   1 258   -   102   21 -   -     1 892   81  
  2008   2 083   586   1 377   -   91   29 -   -     2 028   55  
  2009   2 337   758   1 479   -   86   13 1   -     2 268   69  
  2010   1 983   639   1 282   -   59   3 -   -     1 944   39  
 
Persons moved UK   Helicopters   MRT   Fixed wing aircraft   Ships          
      Total   RN   RAF   Other       Nimrod Other         Civilian   Military  
  2000   1 316   360   934   -   22   - -   -     1 267   49  
  2001   1 182   386   781   -   15   - -   -     1 139   43  
  2002   1 224   314   900   -   10   - -   -     1 181   43  
  2003   1 273   320   922   -   31   - -   -     1 206   67  
  2004   1 412   416   978   -   17   - 1   -     1 355   57  
  2005   1 384   380   907   -   97   - -   -     1 315   69  
  2006   1 463   479   968   -   16   - -   -     1 409   54  
  2007   1 767   507   1,219   -   41   - -   -     1 710   57  
  2008   1 607   516   1 062   -   29   - -   -     1 565   42  
  2009   1 810   656   1 135   -   19   - -   -     1 761   49  
  2010   1 605   539   1 047   -   19   - -   -     1 575   30  
 
Source: DASA(Price Indices)