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Irish Coast Guard via Facebook

Faster, safer, higher: Replacement of Irish Coast Guard chopper fleet completed

The Dublin region Sikorsky S92 was launched today, meaning all four coast guard aircraft bases now have upgraded choppers.

THE NEW S92 search & rescue helicopter for the Dublin region was officially launched at Weston Aerodrome today, completing the overhaul of the Irish Coast Guard’s chopper fleet with state-of-the-art new craft.

Built to specifications set out by the rescue service, the Sikorsky helicopters are designed to provide crews with faster on-scene times, faster patient recovery times and greater year-round capacity.

All four Coast Guard aircraft bases now have upgraded choppers. The new S92s replace the old Sikorsky S61s, which were in use until recently at the bases in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford.

The new craft can travel at up to 275 km/h, carry up to 22 casualties and will have a range of 270 miles. In adverse weather conditions, where there’s a risk of rotor icing, the choppers can fly at a height of 10ft in temperatures as low as minus 40.

Promotional video for the Sikorsky S92 (Youtube: gucio7832)

Today’s launch follows one of the busiest years on record for the Irish Coast Guard, with 33 per cent more call-0uts than 2012 — partly as a result of the July heatwave. The helicopter crews, along with the service’s volunteer members, responded to a total of 2,627 incidents.

There were 808 helicopter missions overall, while the two west coast bases at Sligo and Shannon experiencing their busiest years on record; Shannon was particularly busy, with 290 missions flown out of the base between January last and December.

There was a 70 per cent increase in call-outs to incidents on inland waterways, with the good weather contributing to rise in emergencies involving power and sail craft (up by one-fifth).

image

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar with coast guard crew and senior staff at the launch of the Dublin region S92 today [Image: Irish Coast Guard/Facebook]

Speaking at the launch today in Weston, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the new addition meant meant the service now had one of “the most modern and effective helicopter fleets in the world”.

“This is a good occasion to pay tribute to the dedicated helicopter crews who work tirelessly to rescue lives all year round, and also the hundreds of volunteers on Coast Guard and RNLI vessels, mountain and cave rescue teams.

“It wouldn’t be possible to provide the same level of emergency response without these volunteers.”

The coast guard has also launched a competition to name all of the new helicopters, to be run in conjunction with local radio stations in counties where the craft are based.

Read: Heatwave led to 34 per cent surge in Coast Guard call-outs

Video: Let’s take a moment to remember just how great the heatwave was

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34 Comments
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    Mute Huboy De Kiiiid
    Favourite Huboy De Kiiiid
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:25 PM

    If any people deserve their wage packet these boys and girls do,

    More than any other, these people risk their lives every time their called out.

    280
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    Mute Hedley Lamarr
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:21 PM

    During bad weather I hear them fly over my house and think,Thank god for their selfless bravery.

    101
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    Mute David O Connor
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    Jan 13th 2014, 10:37 PM

    Looks like CHC are doing very well out of this deal…you can buy 5 new S-92s for 117million euro off the shelf..so why did Leo sign off on this extremely generous 500million euro contract over 10 years to manage this important service? Could we not have done it ourselves…I thought we were broke.

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jan 14th 2014, 2:48 AM

    S92′s with full search & rescue spec are a lot dearer than just the basic S92. I’m not sure how the 500m breaks down but I’m sure all other major helicopter operators would have also had bids in for this contract.

    15
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    Mute Fergus McMahon
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    Jan 14th 2014, 9:43 PM

    But for €1million a week??? And do you think Ireland Inc. owns these helis at the end of the contract???…I think we all know what the answer to that is. Us Paddys had the blinkers on when CHC waved one glossy new heli in our faces and the slipped three second hand ex-HMCG ones in, we absolutely need SAR but the PAC has to take a look at the CHC gravy train.

    1
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    Mute Stephen Mooney
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:26 PM

    Could not get over the size of this helicopter when I saw it recently, that being said I hope it proves as reliable as the Sea King did. Hope the pilots and crew like their new toy!!

    114
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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:41 PM

    Next upgrade the Air corps anf navy

    79
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    Mute Dee4
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:59 PM

    maybe ambulances first eh?

    70
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    Mute W.j.d.
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:48 PM

    The navy & air corp also rescue people ect dee….. Can’t see an ambulance going up in the air or out to sea ….

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:57 PM

    New naval ship contracts signed, the Aer corps have a very modern and capable fleet for their role

    19
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    Mute Aaron Mulvaney
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:59 PM

    What about gardai who are the worst out of all services for resources and equipment?

    40
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    Mute Ed Appleby
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:33 PM

    What navy? What air corps? The fishery protection are getting 2 new patrol vessels but alas the ‘air force’ are still in trainers!

    14
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    Mute Mitch Connor
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    Jan 13th 2014, 8:16 PM

    That’s the same air force with a fleet of zero jet combat aircraft.

    15
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jan 13th 2014, 10:19 PM

    There are two brand new navy ships on the way,one in the near future and one early next year this year.

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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:32 PM

    Take your hands out of your pockets Leo and show some respect.

    67
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    Mute Charlie Carlisle
    Favourite Charlie Carlisle
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    Jan 14th 2014, 10:06 AM

    Absolutely, looks awful

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    Mute Aidan Clinch
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:30 PM

    Had the privilege recently to visit base at Shannon, got to get onboard and have a good look round as well as be briefed by winchman on all aspect of it. Would encourage anyone who has an interest ino r follows ICG to go and view for yourself. It is some piece of kit.

    37
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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:32 PM

    Bloke in my local flies these bad boys. To say he is an interesting guy to have a pint with is an understatement.

    35
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    Mute Daniel.
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:33 PM

    Like thunder when they fly over the house here in Waterford, beast of a machine

    31
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    Mute Niall leech
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Spotted this flying over my house this morning in Lucan. Fairly impressive looking machine.

    28
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    Mute Brian Tracey
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    Jan 13th 2014, 7:32 PM

    They do a fantastic job however to say the replacement is overdue is an understatement. The dublin based aircraft was built in the early sixties so 40 years or more between changes. These newer aircraft will be so much more usable

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    Mute Tom Smith
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:07 PM

    Interesting quote from wikipedia:
    !While EI-ICG (First S-92 delivered) was delivered as “factory new” from Sikorsky in the US, the other S-92 aircraft are ex-HM Coastguard equipment from the UK.” So all but one is second hand.

    14
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    Mute Reg
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:12 PM

    They all belong to CRC helicopters who run the Irish Coast Guard contract.

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    Mute Reg
    Favourite Reg
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:13 PM

    Should read – CHC Helicopter

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    Mute Patrick Lyons
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:53 PM

    These guys deserve similar praise to thee RAF.

    13
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Jan 13th 2014, 7:57 PM

    Ehhhh………

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    Mute Reg
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    Jan 13th 2014, 8:56 PM

    Looks like the RAF are losing the SAR role to CHC also.

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    Mute Mousey Minor
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    Jan 13th 2014, 10:44 PM

    these guys never dropped bombs on kids, women and men.

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    Mute Shane Hickey
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    Jan 13th 2014, 11:38 PM

    That’s because they’ve never been to war. The RAF search and rescue have done an amazing job over the decades and have saved thousands of lives, many of them Irish, so let’s not get petty about their war time past out present

    23
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    Mute steven callaghan
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    Jan 13th 2014, 5:41 PM

    i have and was trained on a their schweizer 333. beautiful chopper

    11
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    Mute Magoo
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    Jan 13th 2014, 10:33 PM

    Faster, safer, higher and LOUDER, much much louder.

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    Mute Ros Aodha
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    Jan 14th 2014, 2:47 PM

    The aircorps were supposed to get a fleet of S92′s but the then minister for defence (Michael Smith) had an epic fail in the procurement due to a backhander for Team Aerlingus getting a sneaky contract with sikorsky maintenance. Eurocopter kicked up a fuss as did the other companies in the running as they werent aware that they could have offered a backhander like this.

    Short story, bid was pulled, aircorps didnt get the aircraft they needed to continue in the SAR role and instead we decided to hire a private company to provide what should be a state service. Last year or in 2012, cant remember which, private company CHC won a 500 million euro contract to provide us with 10 years service.

    To top it all, Sikorsky STILL won out as CHC buy and fly Sikorsky aircraft.

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    Mute Philip Hughes
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    Jan 13th 2014, 7:53 PM

    They are currently flying around over our house, the windows are vibrating.

    4
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    Mute eVeLyN hUgHeS
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    Jan 13th 2014, 10:10 PM

    Wasting petrol

    4
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