John Browne T.D. welcomes the announcement of New Search and Rescue Helicopter Contract

The Minister for Transport Mr Noel Dempsey, T. D. today signed the contract awarding the provision of Helicopter SAR services to CHC Ireland. Transition to the modern helicopters will start in July 2012, and will run for ten years; with an option to extend for a further three years on a year by year basis. It represents a marked improvement in the capacity, range, speed and capability of Ireland’s search and rescue service.

The contract represents a continuation of the existing level of service with the principal change being the replacement of the Sikorsky S61N aircraft, with the ‘new generation’ Sikorsky S92A aircraft. These aircraft will operate out of Waterford, Shannon, Sligo and Dublin.

The contract which will provide for the delivery of a top-class SAR service operating out of Bases in Waterford, Shannon, Sligo and Dublin up to 2022. There are over 130 jobs in this service and we anticipate that over 20 new posts will be created. CHC Ireland has an excellent record in delivering SAR services to our Coast Guard. The contract provides for helicopters that will fly to the scene of the mission faster. They find the vessels or persons in the water more efficiently using better search, surveillance and tracking tools.

The main role of the IRCG helicopters is to provide Ireland with 24/7/365 days a year maritime and coastal SAR rescue service. The helicopters will locate persons in distress or imminent risk, providing immediate medical treatment where required, and evacuating them to an appropriate place of safety. The helicopters are used for mountain rescue and used to recover injured persons from and operating with the local RNLI and other rescue boat operators. They can also be used to visually assess marine pollution etc. and to assist Gardai and local authorities in emergency situations.