Air Corps vs Coast Guard

[Silver]

Will we see the Coast Guard taking over more Air Corps roles in the future (e.g. Fisheries Protection) ?

Would this be a good or bad thing ?

Take a look at the Air Ambulance thread guys

My comment on the Civil Operators being able to provide a better service because they don't have to keep taking their gear out to do other jobs extends to SAR too.

Having the capability is only part of the battle. All the current relevant helicopters in the Corps still have the capability, but cannot provide the best service possible, that's what the voting fishermen want (and there's lots of them).

I do hope the comment about leasing a 61 for troop transport was a mistake. God help us if they go dowm that road, we'll never see a modern heli again...

[FiannaFail]

Back from some very important State duties!! Much catching up to do! Great  to see Silver keeping up such hight standards.
On this impoortant issue Silver I would repeat what I would have already stated on the issue..... SAR should be handed over lock stock and barrel to the Coars Guard and allow us to focus ourselves on MATS and military issues.
Cheers,
FiannaFail

[p.diddy.cool]

hi gang,

ya still no resolution to the ongoing SAR problem, but there is a course being advertised for a replacement course.. 16 ppl on a 4 week intensive sar course for winch op/men.... my replacement.. but thats life!

in many ways im glad that the issue i have/we with management of the sar crew has not come to the site, i have found the topic to be posioning on sites: RE irish aviation site.. recently closed its topic to it.. thankfully it was getting very dirty..

i have respect for this site and do not wish it to fall like the other site.... ANYHOOO! the reason i submit this reply is that i heard in the don last week that MATS is being handed over to civi's in the coming months... ill have more factual info during the week for u lot of biddys ha ha

untill then regards P.D.C

[Turkey]

Only a fool, or a fianna failure[same thing], would hand over SAR, lock,stock and [beer] barrell, if he/she/it expects to operate combat aircrafts.
Now before I hear the usual comments about SAR not being a military function,[it,in part, is], or that other countries have civ' operators, [they do, along with their air forces,[uk] or have very military-style Coast Guards, with a quite incredible esprit de corps, [US]]
I do not belive that this country can afford to carry on bleeding to provide 2 operations doing the same job,
when, if the IAC is ever going to operate as a serious military organisation, it will have to retain a capacity for SAR.[IMHO]

[Silver]

Thats a bit of a surprise, weren't we always told by govt that the AC had to operate MATS for 'security reasons'.

[IAS]

Although I would like to see the AC continue to provide SAR cover, after the recent problems, irrespective of who's right or who's wrong, it's probably a done deal, that SAR will become 100% civil in the near future, I cannot see the Government, continue with the expensive lease of the S61, for pure search duties.

IAS

[Turkey]

Unfortunatly IAS, you may be right, I have not heard of any resolution of the current problems, which would appear to put the possable? leasing of a 2nd S-61 for troop transport duties in doubt too.

[Silver]

What about Fisheries Protection ? Will the CG be 'eyeing' up that role next (or will the DoD be hoping to hand it over to the Dept of the Marine!) ?

The Swedish Coast Guard's 3 x CASA 212 MPA aircraft.

[p.diddy.cool]

i dont know about fisheries but the SAR could be! , Watch this space, alot going on these days in no. 3 ref SAR and the coast guard

regards p.d.c

[alpha foxtrot 07]

the aer corps should have all or nothing, this whole thing of you do this bit i'll do this and joe over there will do that is a load of crap. it is waste of money and efficency, so weather it be a coast guard of the aer corps, at least pick one.
sure why not join the corps and the navy into a coast guard as what exactly do the navy do anyway!!! '>

[Fouga]

My god those Swedish Casa's look ugly and the say the A-10 is ugly, The A-10 is lovely to look at! (Just thought id say it) '>

Then again look arent what they want now is it!