Through the ongoing pandemic and an exceptionally active hurricane season, Bristow’s Gulf of Mexico search and rescue (SAR) team has remained at the ready to assist customers in the Gulf of Mexico. The team reached 1,000 missions for the year on November 8, 2021.

Operations for 2021 far exceed pre-pandemic missions. In 2018, they flew a total of 144 missions for the entire year. In 2019, the total was 185 missions. Thanks to these 1,000 missions, 1,065 people were rescued or assisted. Of the 1,000 missions completed through November 8, 66 percent were COVID-related missions.

In addition to the substantially increased workload, the Gulf of Mexico SAR team has delivered seamless service while operating out of New Iberia, Louisiana, following the Galliano base damage experienced from Hurricane Ida this year.

“We have received significant praise from customers on the stellar SAR service our team delivers every day,” said Operations Manager Jon Kruse. “They have commended the outstanding work of the team and truly appreciate the safe, efficient and reliable service they receive from Bristow.” He credits the team’s passion, dedication and training for the outstanding service they provide every day.

“We keep a rigorous training regimen with varied scenarios that prepares us for any situation,” said Kruse. “We are prepared to work with any size vessel, day or night, in different weather and sea conditions. Whether it’s hurricanes, medical, COVID, boats dead in the water, open water, mass casualty situations – we’re ready to respond. We want to do the most amount of good for the most amount of people, and the team, including our top-notch mechanics, put in the work to remain prepared.”