The first helicopter in the Irish Coast Guard’s new aircraft fleet has landed at Weston Airport in Dublin, and over the coming weeks, Coast Guard volunteers, RNLI, community inshore rescue and mountain rescue teams will work with the new helicopter, conducting exercises that replicate everyday search and rescue activities.
The new chopper forms part of the full fleet which will comprise six AW189 helicopters, five of which will be newly built, along with two fixed-wing aircraft. The helicopters will be stationed at Weston Airport in Dublin, Sligo, Waterford and Shannon, to provide day and night, year-round availability. The fixed wing aircraft service will be based at Shannon.
The fleet will enable the Irish Coast Guard to continue to provide world-class maritime, coastal and inland search and rescue services, which have saved the lives of over 300 people this year alone. They will also be used for environmental monitoring, and other essential services including helicopter emergency medical and air ambulance services on behalf of the HSE and National Ambulance Service.
Welcoming the arrival of the new AW189 aircraft, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for the Coast Guard, James Lawless, said: “This fleet will enhance the Coast Guard’s capability to deliver a world class search and rescue and maritime environment monitoring services, along with the essential aviation support service provided to other State organisations including the National Ambulance Service, An Garda Síochána, and National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Services.
“Coast Guard personnel are incredibly committed to assisting the public, sometimes in extremely challenging situations. This new fleet ensures that the highest standards of safety and professionalism continue to be met, as they carry out their life-saving work.”
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