SAR Helicopters & AIS

Discodog

I used to follow the movement of the SAR Helicopters on AIS. But recently they have stopped showing on AIS. I am using the mobile AIS android app.

Storm 10

They have not stopped, all fine here, not android.

Discodog

Storm 10 wrote: »

They have not stopped, all fine here, not android.

They are showing now that I posted! . But two helicopters were over over Galway Bay a couple of days ago & neither showed on AIS.

RadioRetro

It all depends on the flight crew actually turning their AIS on when they start up. I've heard the CG ask them to do so a couple of times when they forgot.

vulcan57

RadioRetro wrote: »

It all depends on the flight crew actually turning their AIS on when they start up. I've heard the CG ask them to do so a couple of times when they forgot.

Have also heard the crews telling CG that they are switching it off. Have also noticed that on several occasions their AIS freezes while all the others around them are fine. Having said that, most of the time they are visible and I track them and a couple of the UK CG helos along with lifeboats that have AIS qute regularly.

RadioRetro

I think all the lifeboats are having AIS installed, it's just a matter of time now!

gbee

As per all the above, unless you are tracking one yourself, the SAR moves pretty fast and is often ignored and add in the Internet lag and who is actually sharing, whilst there are many sharers, one sees the same few on SAR Helicopters all the time.

I run my own and take it portable from time to time and I can see the Internet SAR not moving for an hour at a time whilst I'm watching my own track.

vulcan57

RadioRetro wrote: »

I think all the lifeboats are having AIS installed, it's just a matter of time now!

Yep, by all accounts all will be fitted over the next 12-18 months. At the moment I have about 11 Irish lifeboats on my list that are fitted. Maybe more, that I haven't found as yet though.

vulcan57

Anyone see the AIS tag SAR 1046 today off the SW coast? Bugging me what it maybe. Thought it possible that it maybe a new Coast Guard S-92 due for Sligo sometime this year. Problem is that at one point AIS said it was flying at 250 knots, that's too fast for a helicopter. Could it be that they have fitted AIS to the Air Corps CASA's?.

eyeinthesky

Saw 1046 which made curious and checked some forums, and they all said it was a Casa.

RadioRetro

Those nice people at the Defence Forces Press Office tweeted this link to her starting up and setting off yesterday.

vulcan57

Today there were a couple of new AIS tags spotted

SAR 1110 of the Mayo coast Maybe CASA Charlie 253 ?

and

SLIGO SAR HELICOPTER over around Dublin. Maybe new S92 ?

Can anyone confirm or correct these?

eusap

What type of craft do the SAR helicopters show up as?

On http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/ there is no category for Heli or SAR

vulcan57

eusap wrote: »

What type of craft do the SAR helicopters show up as?

On http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/ there is no category for Heli or SAR

Light blue under category Tug, Pilot etc

Klunk001

vulcan57 wrote: »

Today there were a couple of new AIS tags spotted

SAR 1110 of the Mayo coast Maybe CASA Charlie 253 ?

and

SLIGO SAR HELICOPTER over around Dublin. Maybe new S92 ?

Can anyone confirm or correct these?

Ex Sligo cab EI RCG now operating from Dublin, maybe that is what you spotted in that area today ?

vulcan57

Klunk001 wrote: »

Ex Sligo cab EI RCG now operating from Dublin, maybe that is what you spotted in that area today ?

Thanks, but RCG is SAR 1174 so seems odd that they would change it to Sligo when its in Dublin. Also why bother changing the tags of any of the S61s if the new S92s are taking over in a couple of weeks?

vulcan57

SLIGO SAR HELICOPTER around again. The pictures with this are of EI-CXS, but can't be that as that is SAR 1175 and flying at the same time gown around Watrrford.