Air Corps SAR

In fairness to the council, the requests for additional info do seem reasonable.

1. Permitted Usage The applicant is requested to specify the existing operating hours for air traffic at Weston Airport. It is noted the proposed facility is likely to accommodate 550 to 580 flights per annum which equates to less than 2.7% of the total permitted annual movements. The applicant is requested to specify the proposed operating hours for air traffic relating to maintenance, repair and overhaul associated with the proposed development and indicate what proportion of the projected flights are associated with this element of the proposals. While noting the demand-led nature of providing an emergency service, the applicant is also requested to specify the proposed operating hours for air traffic associated the emergency service and indicate how air traffic associated with this element of the proposals is likely to be spread across a typical 24-hour period and a typical week. This information is requested to help assess the impact the increased usage level and having regard to concerns raised by third-parties.

1. Public Safety Zones The subject site is located within the Public Safety Zones of Weston Airport. It is not, however, clear whether the proposed development is located within the Inner and/or Outer Public Safety Zones of Weston Airport. The applicant is requested to clarify this and compliance with Policy IE14: Public Safety Zones and its Objectives under the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028.

1. Signage The applicant is requested to submit additional information in relation to the proposed signage at the site entrance, including dimensions and materials. The Planning Authority would consider that the provision of 2 no. site entrance signs could lead to visual clutter and the proposed signage should therefore be reviewed in this context. 

1. The proposed access to the site would be via the existing emergency airside access from the R403 Celbridge Road. This existing access from R403 Celbridge Road was permitted for supplementary accident and emergency access/egress use only under Reg. Ref. SD08A/0729 & ABP Ref. PL06S.233306. This was in the interests of the orderly development of Weston Airport and traffic safety. There is a 6-year road proposal objective along R403 Celbridge Road and 6-year road proposal objectives (under the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028) joining this road in proximity to the access, including the new L2010 Cellbridge Link Road. The Roads Department and the Planning Authority would have concerns that the permanent use of this access could prejudice the future delivery of these roads objectives.

In fairness you can't go around turning what is an emergency access point into an active entrance/exit point.

1. . Car Parking The applicant is requested to submit details on the number of workers/staff and daily visitors to the development, along with a reduced car parking numbers based on active travel and public transport

This was given in the traffic plan in the original documentation. 18 office staff working 0900-1700, and 6 crew on a 24 hour 1300-1330. SDCC rules allowed them to have up to 28 parking spaces based on the 6 bedrooms, 1 car each, 1 parking space per 100sqm of Warehousing (1100sqm), and 1 parking space per 50sqm of office (550).

1. Surface water, foul water, drainage water, engineering reports: This seems like something that should have been provided in the required format to begin with

Yes, because the UK is no longer bound by EU regulations on working conditions.

This is an ongoing dispute rather than a Brexit issue (although, wouldn't surprise me if Bristow pulled the Brexit card).

Below inflation or no pay rise at all for years, part reasons given previously was due to Bristow's cashflow issues (which are non existent now)

Working time directive (EU) remains relatively intact in the new post Brexit regulations (UK pretty much did a copy and paste, with some amendments). I'd imagine most in Bristow wave the WTD in their employment contract, but, flight crew are subject to legislation by the CAA which supersedes the WTD and any wavers which limits work hours for safety reasons.

While there is a skills shortage, not everyone wants to (or can) up sticks and move to pastures better.

UK based pilots can do a few weeks on/off out of hubs for offshore work, UKCG pilots can live down the road from the base. One of the local pilots lived down the road from us and made a point of doing circles over his house anytime they were on training.

I could probably do about 6-8 months in the Gulf and come back debt free…. I'm not allowed though :-D

Nothing wrong with leaving it in Dublin, purpose built hangers already there literally brand new at the SAR apron, stupid to move for an international all weather airport that has all facilities needed to serve all weather SAR.

If only there was another airport in Dublin that could accommodate 24 hr rotary wing operations….with a history of operating SAR helicopters.

All that experience and they still struggled to meet contractual obligations to staff rotary and fixed ops on numerous occasions.

Best steer clear ;-)

Its easy to forget that the two airfields are less than 5km apart at their nearest points, as the crow flies.

But it is pretty surprising that it has taken until this deep into the p for these concerns to arise.

If DUB, which does operate 24H, is able to handle the SAR operations despite almost constant line traffic, it's hard to see how it would have a serious impact on Baldonnel, all things considered.

It's currently a Beech 200 based at DUB, on rotation from the UK.

zero, zilch, nothing… bar GASU, which would be tactically managed as usual by Dublin Tower.

Are they going to try argue they will be flying the Casa or PC-9's at 1000ft around Weston?

How do they even manage current S-92 ops if this is an issue :-D

Report on a SAR operation last night, with RAF providing top cover.

https://www.thejournal.ie/royal-air-force-assist-irish-coast-guard-off-the-cork-coast-this-morning-in-rescue-operation-6401524-Jun2024/