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Irish Air Corps / No more SAR -
« on: January 05, 2004, 03:04:13 pm »
Hello Peeps....
Guess we're going to disagree on that article then!
Ho-Hum...nothing new there then!
I accept that times have changed in 40 years....but operating single engine over the water, without liferafts, running out of fuel, mixing your own, atrocious radio, basic equipment!!?? Staggering acheivements....scarey too! That this was published in a National paper with pride disturbs me! I don't know how anyone can be proud of running out of fuel.
So...are we surprised that the AC lost Sligo? If you were surprised you need to get your head out of the sand! Those of us in the real world weren't surprised.
Why did the AC lose Shannon? (Lost to the civvies who won a 1year 'interim' contract! Back in 1991!!!) Why did they lose Dublin? (Perhaps because the AC would only supply daylight only!) Why did they lose Waterford? The answer is fairly simple....they were badly mismanaged, poorly funded....& refused point blank to learn from their mistakes. They maintained a last bastion in Finner. Alas the machines they used were not really up to scratch as SAR machines. So they were thrown a lifeline....a fully fitted SAR S-61. They didn't even have to maintain it themselves. Alas....having learnt nothing in the world of CRM & man management the AC blew that too!
The Blue Flu was caused by unsafe working practices, poor CRM & old, poorly maintained safety equipment. ie Life Jackets. The civvy operator provided up to speck, fully serviced Mk44 Life Jackets (which are technically aircraft fit) but the AC opted to use it's own out of date LifeJackets & harnesses. As for their working practices....who can say...the mind boggles & thank god there haven't been any further tragedies!
So...while you all sit there & blame the government, the civvies & your own winch crews....why not look at it a bit closer....why not investigate the idiots responsible for the tragedy in Waterford & the desperate mismanagement of their staff & resources in Sligo.
Face it....the civvies do it better....most european countries are going down the civvy road.....& having seen the way things are in your AC, I'd suggest you take a moment & wonder if perhaps there isn't a lesson to be learnt here!
Happy 2004!
Guess we're going to disagree on that article then!
Ho-Hum...nothing new there then!
I accept that times have changed in 40 years....but operating single engine over the water, without liferafts, running out of fuel, mixing your own, atrocious radio, basic equipment!!?? Staggering acheivements....scarey too! That this was published in a National paper with pride disturbs me! I don't know how anyone can be proud of running out of fuel.
So...are we surprised that the AC lost Sligo? If you were surprised you need to get your head out of the sand! Those of us in the real world weren't surprised.
Why did the AC lose Shannon? (Lost to the civvies who won a 1year 'interim' contract! Back in 1991!!!) Why did they lose Dublin? (Perhaps because the AC would only supply daylight only!) Why did they lose Waterford? The answer is fairly simple....they were badly mismanaged, poorly funded....& refused point blank to learn from their mistakes. They maintained a last bastion in Finner. Alas the machines they used were not really up to scratch as SAR machines. So they were thrown a lifeline....a fully fitted SAR S-61. They didn't even have to maintain it themselves. Alas....having learnt nothing in the world of CRM & man management the AC blew that too!
The Blue Flu was caused by unsafe working practices, poor CRM & old, poorly maintained safety equipment. ie Life Jackets. The civvy operator provided up to speck, fully serviced Mk44 Life Jackets (which are technically aircraft fit) but the AC opted to use it's own out of date LifeJackets & harnesses. As for their working practices....who can say...the mind boggles & thank god there haven't been any further tragedies!
So...while you all sit there & blame the government, the civvies & your own winch crews....why not look at it a bit closer....why not investigate the idiots responsible for the tragedy in Waterford & the desperate mismanagement of their staff & resources in Sligo.
Face it....the civvies do it better....most european countries are going down the civvy road.....& having seen the way things are in your AC, I'd suggest you take a moment & wonder if perhaps there isn't a lesson to be learnt here!
Happy 2004!