Three Years Strong: Bristow’s Curaçao Team Showcases Global Expertise in Caribbean Search and Rescue

Surrounded by turquoise waters and edged by unspoilt beaches, Curaçao is a Caribbean island rich in history and diversity—and for the past three years, Bristow has been helping to write its next chapter.

October marks the third anniversary of the Bristow team going live at the island nation's dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) base near the capital city, Willemstad. Operating under a decade-long contract with the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, which began in 2022, the small team based at Hato Airport has already responded to hundreds of critical missions.

And these missions - just like the local population and the Bristow team itself - are remarkably diverse.

Casijn Van Till, Base Manager and Director of Flight Operations explains:

“Curaçao is a fascinating place. There are just over 150,000 residents here, but together they represent some 65 nationalities - with most speaking up to four languages: Papiamentu, Dutch, Spanish and English.

“Our team is really diverse too. Over the past three years, Bristow aircrew and engineers from Sweden, Aruba, Australia, Bonaire, Curaçao, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all contributed to our operations.”

But it's not only the people that contribute to the diversity of the Curacao operations - it's the taskings they respond to as well.

“Unlike many Bristow bases across the globe, SAR isn't necessarily our main focus,” said Van Till.

"Curaçao’s location makes it a major trafficking point for the transportation of illegal drugs between South and North America. As a result, we are regularly tasked with executing Coast Guard law enforcement operations focused on the illicit trafficking of narcotics, as well as human smuggling and trafficking.

"Our day-to-day support for multiple types of special air missions means we need to work hand-in-hand with the Dutch Navy. It's an important part of our operational delivery but it's helpful that around two-thirds of the Bristow team come from a military background. We have a very strong and positive working relationship.

“So, whether we are monitoring maritime activity, tracking ‘go-fasts’, responding to people or vessels in distress, medevacs, disaster relief or training with the Dutch Navy, we need to work seamlessly in support a broad network of assets in the vicinity.

“Our position as civilian-run and government tasked makes us the only service of its kind in the Caribbean.”

Three years in and  the Curaçao SAR base stands as a benchmark for international teamwork in the region, demonstrating that Bristow's capabilities - from the Falklands to the Caribbean - run deep.