Coastguard helicopter crews often help in mountain and cliff rescues. Photo: Robby Norman/MCA

A search and rescue helicopter based in the Hebrides had its busiest ever year in 2009.

The Stornoway Coastguard aircraft took part in 183 missions, including mountain rescues – the highest number since the start of operations in 1987. The crew of the Sikorsky S92, based on Lewis, helps mountain rescue teams throughout the North-West of Scotland.

Figures issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is responsible for the service, show the four MCA search and rescue bases took part in 52 cliff rescues, 43 mountain rescues, 87 medical evacuations from vessels, 86 missing person searches and 68 missions involving people in the water.

Coastguard helicopters are based at Stornoway, Sumburgh in Shetland, Portland, and Lee on Solent. Crews from the four bases complete 747 missions last year.

Damien Oliver, aviation manager at the MCA said: “These impressive statistics demonstrate how demand for our Coastguard helicopters has increased from the early 1980s through to the present day.

“From the days of operating with the venerable Sikorsky S61s through to the present day modern Agusta Westland AW139s and Sikorsky S92s, the upward trend in successful missions demonstrates how valuable Coastguard search and rescue helicopters are to the overall search and rescue response.

“Our new helicopters, together with dedicated professional Coastguard helicopter crews and engineers, have further increased our ability to respond effectively and quickly to emergency situations at sea and on the coast.”

Ian McLuskie of CHC, the company that supplies the MCA helicopters, said: “The MCA Stornoway total is the highest yearly total recorded for that base, up 6% from 2008. This can be credited to the increased speed and capabilities the Sikorsky S92 helicopter offers and its ability to undertake a wider range of missions.”