Search and Rescue helicopters can come from a variety of providers including the Coastguard, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as well as foreign countries. B Flight 22 Squadron RAF is based at Wattisham in Suffolk. They operate the Westland Sea King HAR3/3A helicopters which are normally easily identified by their bright yellow paint scheme.

Sea King ZH543

Weighing approximately 9 tonnes and powered by Two Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshafts they are capable of 125kts (five times the speed of the Severn class lifeboat). A crew of four includes two pilots, a radar operator/winch operator and winchman. The helicopter is equipped with a winch, radar, Forward looking Infra Red (FLIR), first aid supplies and night vision equipment.

The Wattisham Sea Kings often operate with the callsign 'Rescue 125' when on search and rescue operations.

The crews frequently practice winching operations both from land and from vessels including RNLI lifeboats.

Winching demonstration at Dover Regatta 2007

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