Wonder will this effect any of the current bases and Crews
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f9647-government-announces-preferred-tenderer-for-the-provision-of-the-new-irish-coast-guard-search-and-rescue-aviation-contract/
From the linked article.
The contract will provide for the day and night-time operation of four helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin.
So I suspect no major changes.
I'm sure the staff be just TUPE over happens a lot in the transport industry,Not as if they would have replacement crews ready to replace the current crews.
It may not be quite a simple as that. Presumably at least some of the senior personnel will be recruited by Bristow for the Irish operation. They wouldn't necessarily have an identical management/operational structure anyway.
Ive seen a post saying all 92's to be replaced by AW189, short sighted if true.
interesting.
Prefer not to go into top trumps area but how would real world performance compare.
The AW189 would be useless on the West Coast given all the long range missions they do with the S92, they regularly go out over 200km to Ships and Trawlers in all types of weather, also its cabin is very small compared to the S92 I was in one and its like a mini hospital with all the equipment they have they are able to carry out minor procedures on a patient to stabilize them on the way to hospital.
Wonder what the difference is in operating the different airframes cost wise?
Bristows (who operate both types) have key specs on their website. https://www.bristowgroup.com/fleet/heavy-twins
I'm not an expert but, on the face of it, there is little difference in range between the two types. I don't know whether in real-world terms they are really as closely matched as the data suggests.
If I recall correctly, helipads at some of the hospitals are unable to accommodate the weight of the S92? I wonder if the AW189 can be handled by those affected?
The AW189 is just a bit larger than the AW139s used by the Air corps for EAS so it won't be as demanding on infrastructure as the S92s.
Wouldn’t the capability requirements have been specified in the tender so I assume that the AW189 was able to meet them, perhaps the S92 just exceeded the requirements more.
AW189s are used for SAR in many locations, although they are smaller airframes, their range and performance are pretty similar. They will be the smallest helis operated by the coast guard though, the S92s were at least double the size of the old S62s, now they will be at least half the size again. There still plenty of space for patient care, but it might start getting cramped if they needed to lift a large number of crew off a ship in distress.
S92 can land at any pad except Waterford & Tallaght AFAIK. S92 on the daily is into UH Letterkenny/Sligo/Galway/Limerick/Tralee & other pads such as Castletownbere & Blacksod. In fact, Waterford never got expanded beyond the size it remains now from the days of the Alouette.
CHC taking it to court.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/chc-helicopter-launches-court-fight-against-irish-sar-loss/153704.article
No great surprise there, given the value of the contract.
Looks like its gone the way of Bristow.
Very hard to swallow I can imagine, majority of CHC are EX IAC/HSE, hows it going to work if they move on? Youll be looking at all new possibly majority British AW189 Crews? I know a huge amount of the SAR lads here are on 1st name terms with their passsengers & have intimate knowledge of Irish waters/beaches/Cliffs etc, going to be very difficult with new heads if they have to go through that process from the start & awkward I can imagine.
TUPE.
They will not bring in new crews.
What is most likely to happen is that when Bristow take over is as follows.
A 5th team will be created.
1 AW189 will arrive in Shannon.
The entire team from one base (say Sligo)will rotate to Shannon to train on the new machine.
While they are off site the 5th team will cover the base (in Sligo).
Once they have achieved operational readiness they will return home bringing the AW189 with them.
The 5th team will move to the next base.
Another AW189 will arrive in Shannon.
Rinse and repeat until all bases have been converted to the new machine.
Some sober reading… It seems the AW189 & the Operator doesn’t have the legs for SAR even in the Netherlands!! https://pledgetimes.com/rescue-with-helicopters-took-a-long-time-from-den-helder-via-rotterdam-to-the-cargo-ship-above-ameland/
looks like the Irish media is picking up on the Dutch story.
As for the current employees (Medics) If they were to be replaced by UK medics they would have to have their skills and qualifications assessed by PHECC..
Going for the same result with anything less than an S92 is deluded.
A bit unfair to be blaming the operater, if what they supply meets the tender documnets then the issue lies with the Department of transport for issuing below par requirements.
The Mail on Sunday is a pretty authoritative source on aviation matters, of course.
Of course 🤣
About as authoratative as Eamon Ryan
I wonder is part of it a dirty tricks campaign by CHC to try and discredit Bristow in the media..
There isn’t a whole load of difference in capacity between the S-92 and the AW189 in real world terms.. The S92 will take two extra bodies in the cockpit and has 15km further range, but how many SAR ops involve over 15 casualties anyway
Any word on the fixed wing type? Living here in Castlebar the S 92 is a regular into the hospital from the likes of Achill or the Islands off Mayo. Its very rare the S 92 ventures very far off coast so i guess the AW189 will slot in fine. In an ideal world id have an S92 based at Shannon and Sligo and the AW189 at Dublin and Waterford.
This machine for top cover would be ideal ,Not the 727 ;)
LOL, say that to Shannon. Long Range is their bread & butter.
The AW189 isnt fine, asking an AW189 to do what an S92 does is deluded. Size matters.
