Air Corps SAR

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123342645#Comment_123342645

Ireland have a non-compliant AW139 doing HEMS role the last how many years now?

This is an IAA regulatory issue, not an aircraft issue.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123345229#Comment_123345229

Ahh but you are missing the important bit there that AC112 is Military & yes it is an aircraft issue, they need a SAR stretcher for SAR & a separate HEMS approved one, the aircraft selected is not able to fulfill the requirement for combined SAR/HEMS.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123345585#Comment_123345585

correct, it's a stretcher issue (or more so an IAA regulation on what stretcher to use for which mission)… not an aircraft issue.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123346789#Comment_123346789

Correct, it is a stretcher issue as the aircraft cant take a HEMS & a SAR stretcher at the same time, simply because shes too small & can not take all the required HEMS & SAR gear all in one go like the S92 can & does on a daily basis.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123348600#Comment_123348600

Was that specific requirement stated in the original tender document, do we know?

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349250#Comment_123349250

SAR is the main contract role with HEMS really only a back up to HSE HEMS and 112.

Remember also the tender was changed for poltical reasons as it was orginally a 3 base and.not 4 base contract.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123348600#Comment_123348600

S-92 doesn't carry all HEMS kit all the time.

roadmaster

So in less than 4 weeks we will know the outcome of the ABP appeal for Bristow in Weston.

If ABP overturn SDCC planning will the government force the Air Corps to allow Bristow operate out of Casement?

Larbre34

No, they won't. Because such an arrangement would be an unacceptable compromise of Air Corps security, given the layout of the air base as it stands.

If the government are to do anything, it would be to take legislative action to override ABP, for public service flight operations in general.

There's a good interview with Stripe joint-founder John Collison on The Currency this weekend, speaking about his vision for Weston Airport since he purchased it, as a hub for light, private and public service aviation, as well as as a centre of excellence for the training of pilots and flight operations professionals.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123349676#Comment_123349676

You are factually incorrect, the S92 in Irish Coast Guard service is fully SAR/HEMS kitted all the time 24/7 for any SAR/HEMS tasking, you can also add to that where one of the Crew is an Advanced Paramedic (AP) they will also carry extra additional kit & the drugs that an AP can issue, also every day there is an AP coming on duty the Coast Guard are informed & the HSE are also informed.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123354697#Comment_123354697

It doesn't, it has additional HEMS and/or SAR kit off(on)loaded depending on the previous tasking or whether it is flying from base.

You don't do long range SAR with a load of HEMS kit taking space and weight, likewise you don't do a HEMS transfer with an SAR basket stretcher sitting in the cab, taking up monitoring kit space.

Primary function is SAR, and S-92 has done numerous HEMS re-taskings, with SAR kit only (i.e. under SAR regulations).

roadmaster

No extra cost to the State! I wonder?

https://www.thejournal.ie/government-air-search-search-and-rescue-contract-bristow-coast-guard-pushed-back-6679569-Apr2025/

Larbre34

I fail to see how there could not be many, many extra costs as a consequence.

But still, one could not blame the Department of Transport, as they only had the bare 15 years to prepare for a potential transition of contractor. A very unfair expectation........

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123362427#Comment_123362427

If the state is not taking a hit the only way i see it is if Bristow are bascially sub contracting the work to CHC and Bristow are taking a hit on a mark up been charged by CHC.

Psychlops

Wrong again, the S92 is fully kitted all the time for SAR & HEMS. Add to that when there's an Advanced Paramedic (AP) on duty they carry the additional kit and drugs for AP level also.

Moreover, it can carry all the kit on the occasions that it has to deploy a marine pump. It never has to re-role, which was a requirement of the tender. This means that when you’re out on a SAR or HEMS, you can be ready for the opposite role in the air & don’t have to RTB to rerole, which also takes time which is the problem with the AW189.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123363247#Comment_123363247

The winchcrew are already AP's? They can't provide HEMS without an AP (that's sort of the point of it).

You've obviously never been in a S-92 with the aux tanks in the cabin (which R115 does regularly).

S-92's offload and onload kit regularly. Yes they do have a standard fit with HEMS/SAR kit (which the AW189 will also have when this stretcher issue is ironed out)… but if time allows, they will take kit on/off.

Likewise, they have dumped kit on site for it to be picked back up later or returned via land (multi-casualty mountain rescue scenarios where mountain rescue stretchers and kit are already in use. Medevac missions where ambulance/hospital stretchers are in use.

roadmaster

i see Craughwell and Doherty are looking for a public investagation in to the new contract. Having no Fixed wing avilable as well for the rescue of the south east is also raising questions.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123375345#Comment_123375345

G-HMGG was on scene from 0300.

While not ideal, sometimes it takes time to ascertain whether they're needed for something so close to shore.

R116 had already done an intensive search at this point.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369083#Comment_123369083

Oh I have 😉 You clearly havent talked to the Crew & yeah a huge majority of them now in CHC are AP's.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378251#Comment_123378251

great, then you would appreciate that kit is on and offloaded quite regularly, contrary to your argument.

I speak with the crew a lot, and fully aware a lot don't like the AW189.

Negative_G

Has this thread really delved into some micky swinging contest about who knows helicopters and crews better?

What next? "My dad would beat up your dad"

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123381983#Comment_123381983

My helicopter's better than your helicopter.

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123381983#Comment_123381983

No, just facts.

youtheman

It's important to note that SAR is governed by the IAA, and HEMS is governed by EASA. Two completely different sets of rules. In general the rules for SAR are less 'restrictive' and allow the captain a lot more discretion, for example re. power reserves etc. If there is an issue with a stretcher in the 189 I suspect it is an EASA/HEMS issue rather than a SAR/IAA issue. But I could be wrong!.

Larbre34

If ever there was a poster candidate for the EU's proposed bonfire of stupid regulations, this is it. In civil and public service aviation at any rate.

There should be a unified set of regs for all rescue and aeromedical aviation operations, from drones up to any casualty / patient transport within the Union.

Psychlops

Clearly this contract at this stage is non compliant?

https://clareherald.com/news/search-rescue/contract-delays-hamper-rescue-115-hems-response/

Larbre34

Neither side will ever say that. It would too costly and unacceptably disruptive to jump out of it now.

vswr

CHC want out ASAP also.

Top job from the Government's contracts team

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123414336#Comment_123414336

Are you sure as i taught they got a ball of cash to stay untill 26.

The Top Cover was suppose to start full time last week, Did it happen?

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123414390#Comment_123414390

they did, but puts a date on CHC to leave, helo's will probably be sold or re-assigned before end of contract.