Aircorps 2010.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Alright shoot me for being a nerd but I can't help wishlisting to vent a little frustration, and I think my peculiar combination of talents lets me do so with a little more authority than your average 18 year old squeak (I'm not that young BTW).

Alright to make clear what I want to achieve here: I believe that at no cost to essential public expenditure (Health, Welfare, education...etc) although at some cost to frivolities such as makre up artists the Air Corps could gain it's highest ever level of military functionality while the civilian population would receive a much higher standard of aviation services all at increased cost efficiency.
First of all, while the air corps is understandably worried about giving up any of its current roles for fear of disbandment it would be better for everyone in the long term if certain tasks were transferred away (assuming an unbreakable commitment tro maintain the corps).
Therefore I'd suggest the following.
1. The outsourcing of basic flying training to a private school, with advanced training being kept in baldonnel.
2.The establishment of a civil aviation agency (probably employing 80-90% former A/C personnel) to run 2x GASU EC-135s and 6x Regionally based (in pairs) HEMS EC-135, and a Coastguard aviation with 3 EC-225s (Civil EC-725).
3. With the Air Corps now having sufficient personnel for continuous military tasks, and no need to maintain otherwise inutile basic trainer airframes, I'd propose the following fleet.
1 MARITIME SQN
3x CN-235 Persuader (armed: Exocet capable)*

2 MARITIME SQN
3x AS-565S, Missile armed Panther (Converted from current Dauphin airframes)
6x EC-725 (Including three equipped with search radar*, all six equipped with rescue winch and searchlight)

3 Army Co-op SQN
6x EC-155B (stretched Panther),with NVG compatibility and atleast two equipped with FLIR.
6x Cougar 100 (simplified cheaper version)

4 Army CO-OP SQN
4x VF60W (Cheaper aircraft with similar performance, in the Cessna 208 class, uses PT-6)
2x C-295

Flight school
8x PC-9M
3x Casa C212 aviocar twin engined trainer (can operate with PT-6)

Government flight.
1x Gulfstream 4
1x Saab 340* (w same truboprop as C-295) for on island and short range trips.

*If the Persuader fleet was to be armed it would open the possibility of an independent Air Corps contibution to a multi-national peace enforcement campaign.

*The Search radar also adds an MPA/Surveillance capability
making the whole order eligible for EU funding and adding much needed Fishery protection/border surveillance/SAR enhancement.
 
* This is strictly optional.

This configuration is the best balance between affordability and flexibility. In terms of rotary aviation, the SAR role will be enhanced as well as adding a vital security/intelligence gathering capability with Overseas service potential; The introduction of a missile armed maritime helicopter will give the NS its first fighting chance in years as well as being a further, international deployment asset.
The transport fleet has a balance of large and small airframes that will allow the IAC to meet both army training needs (mainly with the EC-155B), Border security missions (ditto) and international deployments in support of army units (mainly with the Cougar 100), on top of this the fleet  essentially consists of two airframes with only slight differences between the EC-725 and Cougar 100  (the author would not object to the state buying 12 EC-725's though). [Total 21 airframes]
In fixed wing aviation the Air corps would see the expansion of the maritime squadron, the replacement of the King Air's with three larger twin engined trainers providing additional support as parachute trainers and air ambulances, the enhancement of the light utility role with the Vulcanair 60's and the introduction of a self deployment / disaster relief capability in the form of the C-295.
[Total airframes 21, Engine types 5 (including GIV)]
Also the civilian population could rely on a specifically designed aviation service as established in all other western countries.(Which will also keep much of the Pilot reserve in country and in practice)
On top of this Ireland would be EADS new best friend, resulting in considerable savings and massive offset potential
assuming the govt encouraged the right kind of development.
If this force was established and the DF found themselves deployed to more and more conflict zones, then you could argue for combat aircraft.
Alright, Nerding over... '>

[Imshi-Yallah]

My helicopter selection has also come under attack from other quarters, with the insistence that all troop lift should be by medium lift helicopters, with a handful of utilities for on island tasks.
This creates a dilemma for me in that there would then be fewer airframes to spread over the various tasks.
One other useful suggestion has been to replace the third C-295 for permanent overseas deployment with a CN-235-100 instead.

[Silver]

Well thought out Imshi !

Pity we don't have any politicians with the brains/interest to carry out such a plan !

[Irish Marine]

Ch 53's!!!!!!!
Great Helicopter indeed!!!!!!!

The way I look at everyting on this board, it seems like everyone wants to see the Aircorps get revamped. Well lets hope by 2010, things have changed.

 '>  

[irishsamourai]

suggestion if iac has money on the future IN 2010

48 F18E/F
5 A321 or boeing 737 MPA
6 A400
2 A330 TANKER
2 GULFSTREAM IV
1 A319 CORPORATE
12 PC9

5 SAR NH90
10 NFH90 for ship
16 panhter for anti tank
16 nh90 for troop
4 EH101

But it's a dream

[Imshi-Yallah]

They are indeed great helicopters but they are also too big, expensive and old for our needs.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Indeed its a dream thats unsupportable by any stretch, We have half the population of Greater london on this Island, rather than having dream lists its important that we focus on the doable but ambitious.

How about some constructive critiscism there folks?
There at least have to be some questions?

[Lude]

I aim to please Imshi!so what are your thoughts on the most realisable of your wishlist? You have a lot of helicopters on it,I would be in favour of replenishing the helicopter fleet as a priority myself.Also as regards the HEMS service I would be a great advocate of that also,especially for the west.Where would you see the helicopters based?

[irishsamourai]

sorry for my answer ,
 i think your configuration for 2010 may be itis not  the best for your country
because 9 medium helicopters for sar is too important , 6 for 3 bases it's OK.
For the airlift , cn235 is very , just 40 people , why not a C130 or A400
and for the 3 aviacor C212 ,there is foreign school for airlift it is less expensive

[Imshi-Yallah]

Lude,
Most european HEMS services operate from Civilian airports so I'd imagine two at shannon, two in dublin and two in cork. With the GASU operating from Dublin, and Coastguard operating from Dublin and Galway.
As for the most realisable its all quite realisable, the most far out idea is the configuration of the helicopter fleet which in the framework of the civil aviation servcies and outsourced training is quite workable.

Samurai,
First of all from this and other posts I think you misunderstand the nature of the coastguard service in Ireland, our coastguard is essentially a rescue service and is completely civilian, the aviation support for the Coastguard is provided by a private company.
So the coastguard has nothing to do with the Air Corps or its budget, while the need for that many SAR helicopters should be apparent by our geography, and the need to avoid future disasters like the Egyptair crash.
Also the fact that some of the IAC Medium lifts will be using a search radar in the Maritime patrol and surveillance roles means that there will be a need for a back up service.
The CN-235 is listed for the Maritime patrol role only, the C-295 can carry 78 fully equipped troops and is a damn sight cheaper than similar sized alternatives.
You may have a point on the twin engined trainer role, and you're not the only one to raise it but I'd rather keep advanced training within the aircorps, so if anyone can suggest a smaller more suitable airframe to replace teh King air.....(Hmmm I wonder would a Bronco do?)

[irishsamourai]

imshi , you are sure for the c-295 it's the same capacity for a C130H ,

[Imshi-Yallah]

Yep it's a big plane, less cargo capacity than the C-130.
Someone on another forum has suggested dumping the C-212s
using the Saab 340 for twin engine training and purchasing a third C-295 which could be permanently deployed overseas as an in theatre transport.