Rescue 116 Crash at Blackrock, Co Mayo(Mod note in post 1)

Veloce · 23-03-2017 05:21PM

Looks like it's doing a coastline search for any wreckage that may have washed up.

Gadgetman496 · 23-03-2017 05:25PM

Over Ballycroy now. It's amazing to see the area it can cover compared to the Granuaile as it heads for port.

scuby · 23-03-2017 05:28PM

Cruising at 129kn on marinetraffic

Oscar Bravo · 23-03-2017 06:04PM

Rescue 118 direct Dublin from the blacksod area

23-03-2017 06:05PM

118 enroute to dublin must have been tasked as it left the search area on a direct track, this is the first visit of a 92 since......well 116 departed

23-03-2017 06:31PM

Picking up cutting equipment apparently

Irish Steve · 23-03-2017 06:36PM

R118 came low over me a few minutes ago, and in passing, if you look at where they've been since launch out of Sligo earlier, their total track puts to bed any lingering doubts about the fuel remaining on board 116 at the time of the accident, when you look at where 118 has been between Sligo and Dublin, they've gone a lot further than 116 did last week, so 116 going into Blacksod for a top up was advance planning, not a case of dire need due to the time they'd been in the air.

Gadgetman496 · 23-03-2017 06:47PM

R118 covered some ground alright.

Gaoth Laidir · 23-03-2017 06:48PM

Irish Steve wrote: »

R118 came low over me a few minutes ago, and in passing, if you look at where they've been since launch out of Sligo earlier, their total track puts to bed any lingering doubts about the fuel remaining on board 116 at the time of the accident, when you look at where 118 has been between Sligo and Dublin, they've gone a lot further than 116 did last week, so 116 going into Blacksod for a top up was advance planning, not a case of dire need due to the time they'd been in the air.

I don't think there were ever any doubts about how much fuel 116 had on board. Capt Duffy was heard to say they were "heavy with fuel" a couple times as they were lifting off from Dublin.

Irish Steve · 23-03-2017 07:14PM

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

I don't think there were ever any doubts about how much fuel 116 had on board. Capt Duffy was heard to say they were "heavy with fuel" a couple times as they were lifting off from Dublin.

Indeed, but there were a few that were determined to ignore inconvenient truth as it hindered a good but invalid speculation .

118 has just passed over Ashbourne again heading back to the North West

Oscar Bravo · 23-03-2017 07:16PM

No hanging around, airborne from Dublin westbound

23-03-2017 07:21PM

Oscar Bravo wrote: »

No hanging around, airborne from Dublin westbound

Hot refuel and go

coillsaille · 23-03-2017 07:27PM

What looks to be the Garda dive boat has appeared at Blacksod on marinetraffic.

Gadgetman496 · 23-03-2017 07:31PM

coillsaille wrote: »

What looks to be the Garda dive boat has appeared at Blacksod on marinetraffic.

That's the GWU-IV [IE] and it's there for the past 3.5hrs

eastmayo · 23-03-2017 07:56PM

118 just passed over east mayo on route to belmullet....same route as 116 last week....so sad.....lovely 2 hear the sound off the chopper again.

Gaoth Laidir · 23-03-2017 07:56PM

It overflew Knock airport at 3675 ft and 150 kts.

cram1971 · 23-03-2017 07:58PM

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

It overflew Knock airport at 3675 ft and 150 kts.

Where did you get its altitude from? It's really belting it.

cram1971 · 23-03-2017 08:04PM

cram1971 wrote: »

Where did you get its altitude from? It's really belting it.

I see it's on flightradar24, they usually have their transponders off for some reason and don't show up.

Gadgetman496 · 23-03-2017 08:17PM

R118 on the ground at Blacksod now.

Irish Steve · 23-03-2017 08:18PM

At the levels they are normally operating at, there would be no other aviation traffic to conflict, and no transponder on avoids controllers and other commercial flights getting "nuisance paints" that they have to be aware of, even if they can then discount them.

At 4000 Ft or so, they would have wanted to be shown on other aviation units for TCAS purposes. They would have been given a transponder code (if there's no pre assigned SAR codes) for departure from Dublin to ensure adequate IFR separation, and retained that for the transit to the North West.

Gaoth Laidir · 23-03-2017 08:19PM

It was on MLAT

elastico · 23-03-2017 08:20PM

eastmayo wrote: »

118 just passed over east mayo on route to belmullet....same route as 116 last week....so sad.....lovely 2 hear the sound off the chopper again.

I see it went nowhere near Black Rock Lighthouse though. Pretty much straight to Black Sod from Dublin. Last week 116 went approx. 12kms out past black rock to begin its approach.

Is there a logical reason for this?

Edit 12km past black sod.

Gaoth Laidir · 23-03-2017 08:20PM

elastico wrote: »

I see it went nowhere near Black Rock Lighthouse though. Pretty much straight to Black Sod from Dublin. Last week 116 went approx. 12kms out past black rock to begin its approach.

Is there a logical reason for this?

$64,000,000 question...

Deatr · 23-03-2017 08:23PM

It brought some equipment over from DUB.

23-03-2017 08:25PM

elastico wrote: »

I see it went nowhere near Black Rock Lighthouse though. Pretty much straight to Black Sod from Dublin. Last week 116 went approx. 12kms out past black rock to begin its approach.

Is there a logical reason for this?

What's the question ?

elastico · 23-03-2017 08:27PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What's the question ?

When a rescue helicopter leaves from Dublin with black sod the destination, is it a regular procedure for it to overfly by approx. 12km to begin its approach?

Water John · 23-03-2017 08:27PM

We know the purpose of the post. Don't take the bait.

faoiarvok · 23-03-2017 08:33PM

elastico wrote: »

I see it went nowhere near Black Rock Lighthouse though. Pretty much straight to Black Sod from Dublin. Last week 116 went approx. 12kms out past black rock to begin its approach.

Is there a logical reason for this?

Visibility is better today, no need for a let down to VMC over water.

elastico · 23-03-2017 08:35PM

faoiarvok wrote: »

Visibility is better today, no need for a let down to VMC over water.

So it would be a standard procedure to overfly by 12kms before landing, whenever visibility is bad.

That's all I was asking.

Irish Steve · 23-03-2017 08:37PM

elastico wrote: »

I see it went nowhere near Black Rock Lighthouse though. Pretty much straight to Black Sod from Dublin. Last week 116 went approx. 12kms out past black rock to begin its approach.

Is there a logical reason for this?

Edit 12km past black sod.

I suspect the main difference will be that they were able to transition from the cruise level of (approx) 4000 Ft in (effectively) IFR to the approach profile in VFR, due to the difference in cloud cover. The approach this evening would have been in daylight, not night, and not required a cloud break procedure. There are no airport style approach aids at Blacksod, so while they have procedures to get in to the place, if they are not visual, they will use a standard rate descent over water with no obstructions in front of them and beyond their track so that they can break cloud while remaining safe from hitting something in front of them. That's the significance of about 12 Km, it allows a standard rate descent profile and space for a level off at minimum height without the risk of hitting ground.

If the weather there is anything like the weather here, (it's probably better), they would not have needed that procedure today.

Rescue 116 Crash at Blackrock, Co Mayo(Mod note in post 1)

Comments