any pics of AB139s yet?

The initial capability will be fairly basic and it will probably take a while to get all the extra kit such as fast roping installations, air ambulance kit, door guns and the like up and running, but rest assured that the door guns will appear at PR events and ARW demos. they will also be fitted for security missions and army training exercises. As for the SAR thing, the minister stated that the Air Corps will retain a SAR capability. As such the aircraft will have hoists available and there remain SAR capable crews in Baldonnel with the necessary medical training. In the event of a military SAR requirement, it is likely that the 139 may be the first call for many army units, probably because it will be in the area of operation anyway and can be called using army radios rather than having to go through the coastguard. That has happened in the past in the Glen. No four axis though, but sure the Alouette was no axis and the pilots managed reasonably well in most circumstances! Just the mere fact that they will be green is good enough for me.

[SARMAN]

SCORPY
Where are you going to get the trained medical crew's as I was in bal not that long ago and there are only two EMTs working in heli's now and one of which is not SAR just a crewman, or the last time I was there he was in stores working..
 

And I am sure that the Army units working in the glen will call the corps first for medivac and SAR but what about the other training camps around the country certainly call the coast guard..   [:glare

[Old Redeye]

Spanish Sasemar Award A Contract For Three AB139 Helicopters

Sasemar, the Spanish Marine Safety Agency, has awarded a contract for three AB139 medium-twin helicopters in Search and Rescue (SAR) configuration. The Sasemar is the fifth government customer to choose the AB139 for SAR applications, following previous orders by UAE, Oman and Ireland and more recently Estonia.

The Sasemar’s AB139 will be used for SAR and water pollution detection missions and it will be equipped with rescue hoist, Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR), Search/Weather radar, flotation and a 4 axis autopilot with SAR modes.

Orders for almost 150 AB139s have been placed by customers around world for a wide range of roles including, search and rescue, law enforcement and medical evacuation, offshore transport corporate and VIP transport, making it the best selling helicopter in its class.

Operating to military Casevac standards, the casualty must be stabilised at the scene before transport or be accompanied by an MO in the aircraft. For live shoots and other major exercises there is an MO present which removes the requirement to carry medically trained cremen. This has been the case in past casevacs. In addition to this there are three EMTs in the unit, not two and with notice of exercises, these may be employed in that role, not necessarily as crew. We aren't talking about responding across the country to a training camp or replacing the coastguard option, just to be there if we are needed and happen to be in the area. We may be able to get there that bit faster (160 kts vs 110 kts) which might be a slight advantage but we wouldn't be able to accept a casualty that was not stable and required specialist treatment on board if that equipment was not present at the scene. Don't get me wrong, I think the coastguard crews are better suited to the SAR role, but I feel that we have a responsibility to respond to a call from our own units and in many cases, because of the rapport we have at the moment, we may get the first notification. Many army units don't know that the CG is in fact available to them as they may be operating miles from the coast and out of the mountains and see them as a purely maritime asset. In addition, if these troops are sent overseas, the CG isn't much use to them and they can use all the practice they can get in all aspects of military ops including military casevac which is very different to SAR ops.

[SARMAN]

I do understand what you are saying If there was an MO on scene that is great, but unless someone has become an EMT overnight there are only two..  
I completely understand what you are saying about getting the experience of military op's but if you knew anything about medivacs you would know that there is not much difference between civil and military medivacs, 90% of the flying in East Timor was done by civi operators pilots,crew and techs also you will find that alot of heli's around the world with UN on the side are privately contracted.
Your right the CG will not be much good to someone overseas but the corps are hardly any good to the lads in Liberia/Kosovo etc!!!!   At the minute anyway
What I am talking about is the lads on tactics in Ireland and the best care they can get if anything was to go wrong..
And you referred to 160kts vs 110kts
My only answer to that is if there are multiple casualtys speed is usless and SIZE DOES MATTER..
 

Listen, I'm not making an issue of this. Different folks for different strokes and this is not a forum to reopen the old idiotic discussions on SAR in the Air Corps. Don't treat all of us like we know nothing and read some of the old threads before assuming so.

[SARMAN]

Scorpy
I am not making an issue of this if you read my posts on this subject I was interested in hearing about the AB139 and what the corp will be doing with such a great heli and it is the right way forward for heli's.. The idea of a 139 painted green with fast roping arms and possibly GPMG's on the side is very very cool.  And I wish I was a part of it as the good old days spent with the ARW where very enjoyable and this will get better with the new types..
And the new aircraft doing medivacs why not they are designed for that, just was wondering if the corps where going to be trained up to an even higher level, medically I am talking about..
Sorry if your offended that was never my intention..

[Fouga]

Quote (SARMAN @ 13 Feb. 2006,07:47)

if the corps where going to be trained up to an even higher level, medically I am talking about..

That in itself is an added Bonus!