CASA call signs when doing top cover

[Vulcan]

Around 9.00 this morning I heard the Shannon based Coast Guard Sikorsky heading out into the Atlantic off the SW coast for what I believe was a MediVac.  At around 9.30 I heard the AC CASA Charlie 252 heading out to do top cover for Rescue 115.  While I think its great that the AC are doing top cover instead of calling the Nimrods in from Kinloss, my question is, why do the CASA's use the call sign Charlie 252?  The Nimrods use the callsign Rescue 51 when doing SAR missions so why do the CASA's not have a "Rescue" callsign?  Is it just because a Rescue callsign has not been assigned to Baldonnell?

[Irish251]

As I understand it the "Rescue" callsigns are assigned on an organised basis to dedicated UK and Ireland SAR assets. "Rescue 51" has been used by the primary Kinloss Nimrod for many years; in an extended mission a second aircraft would usually become R52 etc.  I assume that the Air Corps C235s are not part of the system of dedicated SAR assets and so do not as a rule qualify for a "Rescue" calsign.

[Shamrock145]

I am willing to stand corrected by those more knowledgeable on the board, but as far as I know there are currently no Air Corps assets assigned a "Rescue" callsign. Certainly in the past there were (Dauphin DH248 had been operating as Rescue 111 prior to her crash in 1999). I suspect that since the Air Corps do not provide SAR directly, and operate in a support role, that is the reason for no call sign allocation.

This may be slightly out of date, but I believe these are the current SAR assets

Rescue 115 - EINN - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-RCG (or EI-CZN spare)
Rescue 116 - EIDW - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-EMS
Rescue 117 - EIWF - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-SAR (or EI-CNL spare)
Rescue 118 - EISG - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-CSX

Charlie 252 - EIME - Irish Air Corps Casa 235 252
Charlie 253 - EIME - Irish Air Corps Casa 235 253


...145

[Pink Panther]

This may be slightly out of date, but I believe these are the current SAR assets

Rescue 115 - EINN - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-RCG (or EI-CZN spare)
Rescue 116 - EIDW - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-EMS
Rescue 117 - EIWF - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-SAR (or EI-CNL spare)
Rescue 118 - EISG - CHC Helicopters Sikorsky S61N EI-CSX

Current IRCG fleet in no particular order.
EI MES
EI GCE
EI SAR
EI RCG
EI CXS
EI CZN

All are AWSAR (All weather SAR) cabs except for CZN which is LIMSAR (Limited SAR) backup.

[Vulcan]

R-115 is currently EI-GCE