On Sunday 8th December Bristow Ireland commenced the process of transferring Heli Search and Rescue operations from CHC Ireland. The Shannon Airport base is the first to transition to the new AW189 and the bases at Dublin (now Weston), Waterford and Sligo will follow over the coming months. When fully operational, Bristow will operate a fleet of six AW189s on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard. Two King Airs, operated by 2Excel Aviation will provide fixed wing support.
The transition to the AW189 was delayed by just over a month due to delays with training and securing approvals from the IAA. CHC provided cover in the meantime using the existing S92 at Shannon. The two AW189s (EI-IRR and EI-IRD) continue to engage in crew training in preparation for the continued rollout of the aircraft type across the country.
On Tuesday AW189 EI-IRR was tasked on its first operational mission to reports of an injured walker near Carrigeen Mountain in Limerick. The casualty was swiftly located and winched on board before flying directly to Limerick Hospital for handover to waiting medical staff.
The six Sikorsky S92s operated by CHC Ireland will be gradually withdrawn from service over the next six months and redeployed on other CHC contracts around the world.
Picture shows members of the first Shannon operational aircrew and engineers as the service went live for the very first time. L-R : Michael Henson (SAR Medical Manager), Tarmo Must (SAR Commander), Camillus Smith (SAR Commander), Alan Speed (Technical Crewmember), Andrew Burke (Engineer) and Anthony Boyle (Engineer).
