Aircraft To Fly Deep Atlantic Ocean Missions, Serve Ireland's
West Coast
Production of an S-92 helicopter for operation by CHC Helicopter
on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard has been completed by Sikorsky.
Equipped for dedicated search and rescue (SAR) operations, the
helicopter will provide coverage for deep Atlantic Ocean missions,
service Ireland's offshore islands, and provide rescue cover from
Cork to Galway on the country's west coast. Based at Shannon, the
new aircraft will replace the current Coast Guard SAR helicopter, a
Sikorsky S-61 helicopter, which has given 20 years of unbroken
service.
Sikorsky and CHC formalized the purchase Wednesday in the
presence of Chris Reynolds, Irish Coast Guard Director, during a
hand-over ceremony at Sikorsky's S-92 commercial helicopter
assembly facility in Coatesville, PA.
Mr. Reynolds said that the delivery of the new helicopter to
service some of the roughest and treacherous ocean waters in the
world represents a stepped improvement in Ireland's ability to care
for and service its seagoing, coastal and island communities. "We
selected CHC and the Sikorsky S-92 as our preferred combination
after an intense tender and selection process, and I am very happy
that the Coast Guard will operate what I consider to be the leading
SAR helicopter in the world," added Mr. Reynolds.
As a dedicated search and rescue platform, the S-92 aircraft is
equipped with advanced systems and hardware, including an automated
flight control system that enables the pilot to fly pre-programmed
search patterns and perform delicate hover maneuvers; a wireless
intercom allowing a rescue swimmer to communicate with the crew;
radio transceivers to communicate with ships, police and other
emergency rescue services; a weather radar; a forward looking
infrared sensor; and a digital video system to record rescues. The
aircraft also comes with a dual rescue hoist, single or dual
220-gallon internal auxiliary fuel tanks, three litters, and a
Spectrolab rescue searchlight.
Specified by the Irish Coast Guard, the S-92 helicopter is the
first to be purchased by CHC for SAR operations in Ireland. CHC
will utilize four additional S-92 SAR aircraft which will become
operational out of Sligo, Waterford and Dublin airports over time.
CHC currently provides 24/7 search and rescue helicopter service
for the Irish Coast Guard using six S-61 SAR helicopters based at
Dublin, Shannon, Waterford and Sligo.
CHC Regional Director Nick Mair said this was a very proud day
for CHC in Ireland, adding that the dedicated team of professional
men and women on the Irish Coast Guard helicopter service has
worked hard to bring this key milestone in the delivery program to
pass. The aircraft is the 33rd S-92 helicopter CHC has purchased
from Sikorsky Aircraft since 2004, and the fifth dedicated SAR
aircraft. CHC also operates four S-92 SAR aircraft in Scotland
under contract to Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency. (Image
provided by Sikorsky)