HM Coastguard crewman receives Master Rearcrew Certificate

A prestigious Master Rearcrew Certificate has been presented to Kevin Weller, Chief Technical Crew at HM Coastguard Search and Rescue (SAR) base, Caernarfon, to recognize his contribution to rotary aviation.

The award was presented by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots at a black-tie dinner at The Guildhall in London on 21 October.  The award recognizes long service and consistently high standards in one or more branches of professional flying whether civil or military, including air transport, airborne instruction, test, or operational flying.

Weller played a key role in the transition of the HM Coastguard SAR helicopter service to Bristow in 2015, helping to ensure the safe introduction of Sikorksy S-92 helicopters to North Wales, and managing the transition of a large number of aircrew from the military.

Reaching over 7,000 military flight hours

He served with the Royal Navy from May 1973 where he qualified as an aircrewman on Wasp helicopters and before receiving his instructor qualification. In the years following the Royal Navy, he began teaching future generations of UK and overseas aircrew at the SAR Training Unit at RAF Valley.

Having amassed over 7,000 flying hours in military aviation, Weller was back on the front line as he joined Bristow in 2014, as the business prepared to begin delivering the HM Coastguard SAR helicopter service for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the UK Government.

Weller said: “I’m honored to receive the Master Rearcrew Certificate. Being part of the SAR service through my military career into my tenure with Bristow has been hugely rewarding. From taking part in countless rescues to instructing future generations at the SAR training unit, I am incredibly proud to be part of the team.”

Recently, Mark Scotland at HM Coastguard received the Royal Humane Society award for his service in rescuing a 12-year-old girl during a training exercise.