Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Thanks from the NI Air Cadets

« on: December 27, 2007, 04:10:35 pm »

Grey or white helmets?  And why wouldn't aircrew wear a helmet while flying - if one is issued?  Do the helmets have NVG lugs?

Yes, yes, of course I chunter on about this..

2

Irish Air Corps / Happy Christmas Frank

« on: December 27, 2007, 04:03:25 pm »

Sorry for the late good wishes Frank, but very busy here.

Hope you had a very Happy Christmas and wishing for all the best in 2008.  You do a superb job with all this and much appreciated.

3

Irish Air Corps / AW 139 questions

« on: December 27, 2007, 03:05:38 pm »

Excellent questions Viper.  NVG's require helmets - no sign of those yet for 139 crew - or survivial vests/LPU's.  And no sign of FLIR systems either.  Plenty of air show participation though!  

As to your question, FLIR imagery appears on one of the cockpit displays.

As for ordering 139's #7 & 8, don't hold your breath.  Long way to go for anything like operational capability on the first lot. I doubt if they do much more than fly non-tactical straight & level during daylight only plus some IFR to get from here to there in weather.

4

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: August 10, 2007, 01:35:39 pm »

If the IAC really requires jets (and I am not convinced), this is the right ansawer - the L-159 ALCA - performing a low-level flypast at Fairford.  

New aircraft are available right now at a good price - after ordering 72 the Czech AF downsized and now has 30+ up for sale, all factory fresh.  Excellent performance with modern American engine and avionics systems, including multi-mode radar and defensive aids suite.  Armed with AIM-9 sidewinders and a gun pack - along with a range of advanced air to surface capability, including laser guided bombs, Maverick missiles and rockets.  Easy to maintain and a simple conversion from the PC-9.  Five standard single-seat ALCA's and a single two-seat TL-159 would do the trick.  Czech 159's have earned a first-rate reputation in NATO air exercises.

5

Air Corps News / Patrolling the seas with the Air Corps

« on: August 10, 2007, 12:56:02 pm »

Well done.

6

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: August 09, 2007, 01:29:04 pm »

Can anyone tell us how many intercepts have been ordered of civil aircraft entering or leaving Irish airspace since 9/11 2001?  Any details on said intercepts also appreciated - types of a/c invovled and outcome, and where - over the Atlantic or the Irish Sea.

If none then there's your requirement put to bed once and for all.   I suspect there is no justifiable requirement for Ireland to maintain a national fast jet aerial intercept capability in any form and see no practical problem with current UK-Eire and France-Eire air defence agreements.

If I may cross over into the other thread for just a moment, Irish Air Corps resources - people and money - are better spent on world-class capabilities that directly contribute to Irish defence force domestic and international operations.  For example, an Irish Brigadier General has just assumed command of Multi-National Task Force-Centre in Kosovo, which includes an Irish company battegroup along with Swedes, Finns and Norwegians.  The outgoing Swedish brigadier had Swedish Bo-105 helicopters at his disposal, while Norwegian Bell 412's supported the previous commander.  Wouldn't it be great if Ireland could pony up 2-3 tactical helos to support an Irish command lead?

7

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: August 03, 2007, 05:35:18 am »

Here you go.  A CASA C-295M should be the next aircraft.  Same cockpit/avionics as the 235MPA's when they come out of their mid-life update shortly.  Required to support multi-national training exercises with Euro allies, particularly for the evolving Nordic Battegroup and the RW, and to provide rotational intra-theater tactical airlift in support of international ops - such as supporting an EU/UN force in-country in a place like Liberia or Chad.  The C-172's should not require replacement, other than for the fact they require old-fashioned AVGAS?  They should have a lot of years left in them and are fine for what they are used for, which should include flight screening of prospective pilot candidates.

8

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: July 31, 2007, 12:51:42 pm »

Hear! Hear! Flyboy and Sousa.  No more PC-9's!

Eight PC-9's to train 5-6 ab initio pilots and 2-3 IP's every year is overkill.  Yes, they can also conduct CAS in a low threat environment, but against what threat within Ireland exactly - and yes they can perform air policing against helicopters and light fixed wing aircraft flying below 25,000 feet, and do so periodically.  Otherwise they are just plain fun to fly and act as a recruiting tool to draw potential pilot candidates and others to serve in the Corps - hence the airshow circuit they spend so much time on.  

I think a deployable CAS capability should be developed based on the PC-9's for duty in places like Africa in support of future peacekeeping missions.  A three-ship package should be enough to ensure availability of a two-ship flight for helicopter and convoy escort tasks, armed reconaissance, etc., armed with guns and rockets.  Incorporate NVG training to have a night capability.  A pair of armed PC-9's would be enough to stop most dust-ups that occur in African PK scenarios.  If a depoyable capability is implemented, maybe there would be justification for a couple more, but otherwise absoloutely not.

9

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: July 18, 2007, 12:16:14 pm »

Sousa and Pym have it pretty much right on as usual.  1-2 more 135's in the near term to fulfill most training/admin support roles + 4-5 AW-149's for overseas ops eventually - after maintenance, crewing and ops issues are sorted.  139's for tactical training and national missions. Obtain a C-295/CN-235-300 or B-737QC.  

No more PC-9's.  No Harpoons.  No fast jets.  

Institute regular tactical helicopter/special ops training exercises/exchanges with UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, etc.  Work towards a 3-4 ship deployable AW-149 tactical helicopter capability interoperable with EU partners and Naval Service Multi-role Vessel within five years.

10

Irish Air Corps / AW.139 276 on the move.

« on: June 21, 2007, 11:37:56 am »

Frank,

If I may add to Sousza's commentary - I don't mean to chunter on about this, but it is a question of attitude, outlook and professional commitment.  Professional military air arms - such as those of Canada, the US, UK, France, Germany, etc., do not accept the notion of 'admin flying'.  Every sortie is a military mission, with the possiblilty of engaging in militray activity - much different from corporate flying or offshore oil support (where they at least wear LPU's).  As I mentioned in a previous post, even a hop around the pattern could turn into a response to an emergency situation or other high risk military tasking - or just a hard autorotation or serious birdstrike.   The point?  Regard every flight as operational, including the use of proper kit.  

It goes with my other tiresome rant about the image of the IAC as a flying club rather than a professional military air arm.  I am not privy to No.3 Wing's flight schedule or training plan, but the IAC does give the impression of a 9-5 flying club that seems to spend an inordinate amount of time and resources preparing for and participating in air shows, flypasts and publicity events.  

Of course they are justifiably proud of their new equipment and tehy should show it off to the taxpayers, but the principal requirement underlying 139 procurement was support to Special Forces = day night infils and exfils, including hot LZ's and fire support in urban, rural, mountainous and maritime environments, which requires advanced skills and constant training.  Other requirments include tactical helicopter ops in support of land forces, casevac, VIP work, etc.   This means getting the FLIR systems and other gear fitted and training, training, training - particularly with NVG's - and implementing exchange training with EU counterparts in the UK, France, Germany, Finland, etc. in order to keep pace with modern doctrine and build up that all-important professional military outlook.

11

Irish Air Corps / AW.139 276 on the move.

« on: June 19, 2007, 08:48:22 am »

Note the helemts and survivial kit/LPU combos worn every time they fly by Canadian helo crews.  Time for the IAC's AW-139 crowd to get the proper gear and wear it every time they fly.

12

Irish Air Corps / C27J Wins US Joint Cargo Contest

« on: June 19, 2007, 08:32:31 am »

Oh, and Sousza my friend, JCA is an Army/Air Force joint programme, not Army/Navy.

Cheers

13

Irish Air Corps / C27J Wins US Joint Cargo Contest

« on: June 18, 2007, 02:46:20 pm »

True on both counts.  No way the 295 can overcome a JCA order for between 78 and 240 aircraft.  Ditto, the C-27J does offer some advantages over the 295 in terms of higher cargo weight (but less volume/pallets), use of standard mil pallets, range, speed and aerobatic capabilities.  But that said, while a C-27J would certainly be great, the IAC should probably stick with a 295 - cheaper to buy and operate, easier to maintain, common cockpit with the 235MPA's (after their imminent update) and more than adequate capability for requirments.  The 295 is still a terrific airlifter and will serve many military users well for a long time.

14

Irish Air Corps / Bertie's trip to Belfast

« on: May 27, 2007, 07:41:15 pm »

Apparently Bertie does not like to fly in Helicopters.

15

Irish Air Corps / All Eight PC9'S

« on: May 15, 2007, 02:49:51 pm »

Great pictures once again and this is all really cool, etc., etc., etc.,.......but what's the point?   Is this why the IAC has 8x PC-9's?   = At least three more than required to satisfy pilot training requirments.  Is there any other realistic role for the PC-9's?  What did this exercise contribute to military effectiveness?  Ditto for the Helidays airshow participation and the extensive list of other airshows the IAC is slated to attend this year at significant expense.  

Is the IAC a professional military air arm or a flying club?  Instead of operating 8x PC-9's and everybody busy attending airshows, the IAC needs more, deployable AW-139/149's with appropriately trained crews capable of conducting day/night combat operations and who regularly attend EU/NATO exercises and ultimately deploy in support of Irish missions alongside their Army bretheren.  A modest number of shows to highlight the Irish Air Corps is fine, but not a force that is little more than a civilian government air component.

That's my rant.....