This week, the Irish Coast Guard’s enhanced aviation service at Waterford Airport was officially launched by Minister of State with special responsibility for the Coast Guard, Seán Canney T.D. The launch marks the successful completion of a major transition to a new service operated by Bristow Ireland, delivering a significantly expanded and modernised aviation capability for Ireland’s Search and Rescue (SAR) and maritime operations.
The transition follows Government approval of a Memorandum noting the completion of a complex and carefully managed procurement and mobilisation programme. Under the new arrangement, the Coast Guard now operates a fully integrated, 24/7 aviation service comprising both rotary and fixed-wing assets, designed to increase resilience, coverage and mission capability across Ireland’s coastal and inland regions.
At the heart of the new service is a fleet of six Leonardo AW189 helicopters, five of which are newly built, operating from four strategically located bases at Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Weston Airport in Dublin. These aircraft provide round-the-clock SAR helicopter coverage, replacing and enhancing the previous fleet.
Complementing the helicopter operation is a new fixed-wing service delivered by two Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft, based at Shannon Airport. Operating on a 24/7 basis, the fixed-wing element brings an important additional dimension to Coast Guard aviation operations, including long-range surveillance, SAR coordination, communications relay and maritime environmental monitoring.
Together, the helicopter and fixed-wing fleets operate as a single integrated service, enhancing the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to maritime and inland SAR tasks, support aeromedical transfers to and from offshore islands, and provide aviation support to other State agencies such as the National Ambulance Service and An Garda Síochána.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Canney highlighted the operational performance already delivered under the new contract. Since helicopter operations commenced in December 2024, more than 550 missions have been completed, including two long-range medical evacuation flights more than 150 miles off Ireland’s south-west coast. The fixed-wing aircraft, which entered service in August 2025, has already flown over 110 missions.
“This contract is the result of a thorough and complex procurement process undertaken by my department,” the Minister said. “The project was completed on time and within the estimated budget. Importantly, the transition to Bristow Ireland was carried out on a phased basis at each base, without any interruption to essential SAR services.”
The overall contract covers ten years of helicopter operations and a minimum of five years for the fixed-wing service, with a total value of €816 million including VAT. Notably, the final cost came in slightly below the original estimate developed during the early appraisal phase, reflecting tight programme and cost control throughout the process.
While SAR remains the core mission, the enhanced aviation service offers capabilities that extend well beyond traditional rescue roles. The new fixed-wing aircraft adds capabilities that were not previously available to the Coast Guard, including the deployment of life rafts, extended top-cover communications for helicopter operations, and persistent maritime surveillance.
Minister Canney also emphasised the importance of Waterford Airport within the national SAR network. The Waterford base has a long-established role in helicopter SAR, covering a broad swathe of the south-east coastline and adjacent inland areas.
“The location of this helicopter base complements the Shannon and Dublin bases, while also enabling timely response to inland areas such as the Comeragh Mountains,” he said. The continued investment in Waterford underlines the strategic importance of regional airports in delivering essential national services.
Bristow Ireland Director Philip Bartlett paid tribute to the focus on safety and continuity throughout the transition process. “As we introduce new technology and new aircraft, the safe transition at Waterford – and at all SAR bases in Ireland – has been the overriding priority at every step,” he said. “We are proud to support the Irish Coast Guard in shaping the future of Search and Rescue in Ireland, helping deliver lifesaving support to people and communities nationwide.”
