MILITARY search and rescue helicopters based at Leconfield near Beverley are to be scrapped in a Government deal.
American firm Bristow Helicopters is to take over rescue coverage across the UK in plans announced by the Department for Transport.
The RAF Sea Kings at Leconfield will be replaced with two Sikorsky helicopters based at Humberside Airport.
Bristow's managing director Mike Imlach said: "The award of this contract is a great success for Bristow Helicopters and a huge endorsement of our reputation for excellence in search and rescue.
"We are proud to be returning to our British heritage of providing world-class search and rescue services in the UK.
"We will introduce new helicopters to the UK equipped with the latest search and rescue technology that will deliver unprecedented levels and quality of coverage across the country."
Bristow's contract will run from April 2015 until 2026 and training and engineering work will begin in January 2014.
• Gallery On board an RAF Leconfield rescue helicopter
