Bristow Ireland Limited’s (BIL) training, engineering and familiarisation programme for the new Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Aviation Contract, has switched to Shannon Airport, ahead of the service going live at the end of the month.
The company has acknowledged that they have “resolved some minor issues” as it continues preparations to ‘go live’ from the Shannon based on October 31st.
The Bristow Group Inc subsidiary, will provide the next Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) Aviation Contract after being confirmed in May last year the preferred bidder for the new deal.
The contract, which has not been without controversy, will see Bristow Ireland Limited take over responsibility for operations currently being undertaken by CHC Ireland.
Bristow will operate a fleet of six specialist Leonardo AW189 helicopters the first of which arrived in Ireland from Gosport in South East England in August. The new SAR contract will see Bristow Ireland operate from the current bases at Shannon (Rescue 115), Sligo (Rescue 118) and Waterford (Rescue 117). The Rescue 116 base will move from Dublin Airport to Weston Airport on the Dublin/Kildare border.
Since the first helicopter arrived in Ireland, it had operated out of Weston Airport in West Dublin. With Shannon confirmed to be the first of the four bases to go live on October 31st, the helicopter, registration EI-IRR, is currently located at the Midwest airport from where training missions are being coordinated.
The aircraft repositioned to Shannon two days after a fire caused damage to a room adjacent to the control tower at Weston Airport in West Dublin which will “remain closed to aircraft traffic while essential repairs are undertaken.”
As part of the ongoing training and familiarisation programme, the helicopter continues to visit sites around the country undertaking exercises with Irish Coast Guard volunteers including offshore with RNLI lifeboats and cargo vessels.
There had been speculation that the new aircraft had encountered technical problems however Bristow Ireland have said there have been some ‘minor issues’ on which they have been working with the aircraft manufacturer to resolve.
There has also been speculation that Bristow may not be in a position to commence operations as planned at the end this month as planned however the company has said they are “continuing preparations for the first go-live of the operational base at Shannon airport, scheduled for 31st October 2024.”
A spokesperson for Bristow Ireland said: “Bristow Ireland teams based at Weston and Shannon are continuing preparations for the first go-live of the operational base at Shannon airport, scheduled for 31st October 2024.”
“The Shannon base will the first of four to start operations under the new contract. Bristow Ireland has received its Part 145 Line Maintenance approval from the IAA which allows the engineering team to fully support the helicopter in Shannon.
The first AW189 helicopter to arrive in Ireland is the focus of continued familiarisation and engineering, preparing it to become the first of a new fleet of six to carry our SAR duties on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard. With a hugely complex aircraft, safety is always our highest priority, and working closely with Leonardo, we have resolved some minor issues. It is currently flying in support of our training programme.”
