The Bristow Ireland team achieved a major milestone this week as the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) granted Part 145 approval to the base at Weston Airport. The accreditation, achieved after months of hard work, confirms that the team and the facility meet or exceed all the standards for maintenance, repairs and inspections for the AW189 helicopter, which will be phased-in to deliver lifesaving search and rescue operations under the new contract for the Irish Coast Guard.
It gives the Bristow Ireland engineers at Weston Airport the authority to carry out critical engineering and maintenance operations. They are cleared to complete all the essential tasks which will keep the new helicopter fleet flying safe, day and night, as the transition period begins.
This accreditation is particularly noteworthy as it not only covers line maintenance – when helicopters are inspected and routine maintenance is carried out on a daily basis – it also covers base maintenance, when aircraft undergo much deeper and more significant scheduled work, so Bristow Ireland can carry out major repairs and modifications at the Weston base.
“I’m immensely proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get to this stage and make Part 145 approval in Ireland a reality,” said Part 145 Maintenance Manager for Bristow Ireland, John Keane as he received the certificate from the Irish Aviation Authority.
John and Bristow Ireland Chief Engineer Enda McNeill started on the project five months ago. Today the hangar at Weston Airport is home to a team of experienced, licensed engineers as well as their specialist equipment, platforms and tools. But most importantly John and Enda also developed the incredibly detailed maintenance organisation exposition which sets out all the required procedures for safe and effective aircraft maintenance.
“It was a demanding timeframe but with the support of the wider team we made it happen. Now we are ready for the arrival of the first aircraft.”
Bristow Ireland Director, Philip Bartlett, said: “This is a significant moment in our support for the future of search and rescue in Ireland. It falls right on-schedule as we look towards phasing in new bases, new aircraft and new technology over the managed transition period.
“Huge credit to the team and thanks too to the Irish Aviation Authority for their continued and ongoing support. ”
This news comes following the announcement last week that planning permission has been granted for the company’s new hangar which will be located on the south side of the runway at Weston Airport.
