Increasing Air Corp Profile

[clan]

I read some on this site that the Air Corp does not really have a high Profile with the General Public. One way to increase this is to put on a top class display both air borne and static at the Salthill air show. It is an ideal shop window not only for younsters but for the older lot that do not know we have an Air Corp never mind what they do. Use as many aircraft as possible, formation flying with as many A111's s possible, Gazelle and Dauphins on Static display to be joined by the A111's. Topped off with a display by the cessna's followed by the Marchetti followed by the Pilatus and then the Casa all in one big fly past. Over 100,000 people watch the show, it would be a much more effective advertisment then any newspaper add or tv advert. Even Hector might do a show about it. Put everything on Display that they can, and watch the public reaction.

[pilatus]

i like it good idea clan!it would be good for morale aswell! '>

[Imshi-Yallah]

Better yet gain some off island operational capabilities

[FMolloy]

The AC has always had a good presence at Irish air shows, but the public's awareness is still relatively low. So I don't see how curtailing operations & putting nearly the enitre fleet in the air for the entertainment of said public is going to improve things.

I'd agree with Imshi, the best way to raise the AC's public profile is for them to be seen carrying out important work both at home & abroad.

[Silver]

I agree with both clan and F.Molloy.

A higher profile could be generated by a bigger presence at airshows.
(Most people (who have even heard of the Corps) think the AC have only 3-4 helis and 3-4 planes!).

However, seeing green helis airlifting Irish troops at home or abroad, or a CASA (or other AC transport plane) delivering food/supplies to disater areas around the world, would do a great deal to raise the Corps' profile (and help people in need!).

  

There are also a lot of simple things the Air Corps could do to raise it's profile.

For example ('off the top of my head')

- Establish a display team using 4 X PC-9's.

- Retain a Marchetti and use it as a (colourful!) solo-display aircraft.

- Have "IRISH AIR CORPS" on each side of the PC-9's (small writing either side of the engine compartment) - and perhaps 'shark mouth' designs/artwork on a few of them !

- Erect a sign with something like "CASEMENT AIR BASE - Home of the Irish Air Corps" outside Baldonnel.

- Print an annual magazine "review" of the Corps and have it available in newsagents countrywide (and abroad !).
Their 1993 Heli magazine was excellent !

- Establish a Museum (open to the public) - with a viewing area to see current aircraft ops AND a display board alongside detailing the type/number/mission of each aircraft operated.  

- They could also ffectively establish a "trademark" of the words 'Air Corps' (just like 'RAF') by having 'Air Corps' written on their helis, 'Air Corps' clothing, etc. The RAF do this - and it works !

- Create a slogan like : AIR CORPS - Serving the Nation


Just a few thoughts (ravings:) )

Silver.

[sealion]

At the moment,any magazine calling itself a review of the Air Corps would fill at best 2 sides of an a4 sheet.

Unless it included a section on "Aircraft we could have had", or "aircraft not flying today"
That could beef it up to 30 pages.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Quote (Silver @ 31 Mar. 2004,17:58)

I agree with both clan and F.Molloy.

Don't agree with me whatever you do, besides you're still talking about wasting resources on PR gambits that are inherently limited by the complete absence of things to brag about.

[clan]

I understand FMolloys comments, but at the Salthill airshow the presence of the Air Corps is at the best minimal, the Army have a bigger presence and therefore receive far more attention. The A111 sometimes sits down in the park, for a few minutes, but no one can get near it unlike the American Helis which you can have a good look around then the A111 takes off. The Dauphin(a few years ago) has been present but again the same thing. It looks like a Civilian Heli and no one gets near them. They need both Static displays and air borne, clearly identifiing themselves as the Irish Air Corp.
Adding to that, it is a day out for the crews, and a treat for anyone watching that we do have aircraft, not the same A111 all the time.
I also agree with Silver, in order for the General public to swallow the Defence minister announcing a Euro 100 Million contract for Helis, he needs the public on his side, they need to see the Air Corp not just flying around Dublin and Wicklow but doing useful excercise's and PR is a usefull excerise. C130 flying to some famine infested land delivering Irish Aid, Irish Rangers landing in Liberia from an Irish plane to help the locals etc etc. PR starts at home in front of the home crowd.
I bet the RAF, or the Americans have more planes/Helicopters at the Airshow then the Air Corp. It is not hard any more then two will beat them.

[Pink Panther]

The minister for defence did a great job of raising the Aer Corp profile on the Pat Kenny show yesterday morning.Anybody hear it.It was pathetic. '>

[MatRotor]

got a big surprise, we have THIRTY helis!!!!!!!

[sealion]

Dont forget the assertion that by reducing the number of helis he will increase the airlift capacity...how does that work exactly?

Fair dues to Pat Kenny for asking all the right questions,then again in the  80s i remember he was taken for a flip in a fouga,and didnt hurl. It was on TV...
He obviously still has an interest in the fate of the Corps.

[IAS]

MatRotor, I've no way of hearing the programme, however, would the word have been "13", 7 AIIIs, 4 Dauphins, 1 Gazelle, 1 Sea King?

One further question, would, say, 6 Blackhawks not give greater lift than all of the above combined (6x15 : 7x4 + 4x9 + 1x4 + 1x20, these are just guesses)? Then again the chances of the Govt. buying Blackhawks must be very slim indeed, however, we can only live in hope.

IAS

[FMolloy]

Pat Kenny seems pretty pro-DF and, unlike a lot of other broadcasters, has some knowledge of the subject.

When the latest govjet was bought Kenny questioned the logic behind getting the BBJ, and thought that buying an aircraft capable of both MAT's & overseas support was a better idea.

So somebody's been paying attention  '>

[clan]

Second hand early nineties Blackhawks for sale at $8.5m Each. Two SAAF 330L Puma's $1.6M each. I am sure a deal could have been struck for free landing in Shannon for one month for 2 Blackhawks and spares. Or two Blackhawks for the price of Charlies shed in Punchestown.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Quote (IAS @ 02 April 2004,03:54)

MatRotor, I've no way of hearing the programme, however, would the word have been "13", 7 AIIIs, 4 Dauphins, 1 Gazelle, 1 Sea King? One further question, would, say, 6 Blackhawks not give greater lift than all of the above combined (6x15 : 7x4 + 4x9 + 1x4 + 1x20, these are just guesses)? Then again the chances of the Govt. buying Blackhawks must be very slim indeed, however, we can only live in hope. IAS

two blackhawks carrying their max realistic capacity (15 ea in fighting order would lift more than the combined AIII fleet.)
The S-61N doesn't belong to us.