Definite Plans for the Aer Chor

[Buran]

A lot has been said lately about what should happen with the aer chor's fleet. But i want to keep this thread for what is definitely going to happen.

So this is the current line up (afaik)

2 x CASA 235
1 x King Air
1 x Gulfstream IV
1 x Learjet 45
6 x Cessna FR172
1 x Defender
4 x Dauphin
1 x S61
7 x Alouette III
7 x SF260 Warrior
1 x Gazelle
1 x Squirrel
1 x EC135


8 x PC-9M  to be delivered over the next couple of months (some have arrived)

4 x Dauphin  Due out of service this summer

thats as far as i know for definite.


the following is what i think is due to happen
1 x S61  due out of service when the private SAR contract starts in Sligo, when i dont know.

7 x SF260 Warrior  due out of service when the PC-9Ms become operational?

1 x King Air  due out of service after the presidency of the european union? (this is totally based on the statement that the learjet was bought to replace the king air, anyone know more on this?)

? x Light Utility Helis  competition to be opened soon (does anyone know how many are likely)

7 x Alouette III
1 x Gazelle  due out of service when above become operational

as far as i know the pwc report said the cessnas should be replaced by 2 or 3 defender type aircraft, but i guess this hasnt become a plan just yet.
Has anyone more details on what this report said?

[P.Doff]

The SF-260's are to work along side the PC-9's from what I heard last week! For how long i dont know?!

[Silver]

Interesting !

SF-260's and PC-9's ?!

PC-9's for advanced training only (short term) perhaps '>

[Joey d]

Would it be that the new wings course hasnt started yet, and they'll use the new PC-9, and the cadets who are been trained on the SF-260 are going to finish their training on the SF-260?

[Buran]

From this weeks Flight Intl:

Minister Smith will announce, in 2 weeks, an order for:
2 EC135 for training
4 EC145 for army navy support, medical evacuation, inshore rescue, VIP transport.
These will replace 4 AS365F Dauphin, 7 SA316 Alouette III, 1 AS342L Gazelle.....

[Morpheus]

Yeah, now that he got rid of the SAR role... he can halve the heli wing... well done Minister for NO defence you stingy so and so. '>

[clan]

Is this part of the out of court settlement with Eurocopter!!, and we wil now buy the 5 S92's as well?

[Fouga]

How can 6 do the job of 12? Unfu**ingbelieveable.

 

Good trick making an announcement like that without even issuing a tender, isn't it. Methinks perhaps someone in the govt WANTS the whole helicopter issue dragged through the courts for so long that they won't have to make a purchase, because they know that they might not survive the next election. I'd love to see him publish a response to the article, especially when Augusta, Sikorsky and Bell all cry foul.

[Imshi-Yallah]

There are ways to avoid the tendering process in defence, buy off the shelf or issue it as an urgent requirement, which is quite a valid argument if you were to judge the AIII by age alone.
Of course it would be rather out of character for the government to care about such things.

Quote

Lordinajamjar ... the tendering situation was already discussed here; http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/...ighlight=tender Essentially, EU countries don't have to tender for purely military goods under the terms of "Article 3 of the Supply Directive 93/36/EEC and Article 4 of the Services Directive 92/50/EEC). Article 296 of the EC Treaty". There are other ways of getting around it also, such as writing the tender in such a narrow way that no other piece of equipment meets the requirements, but if EU governments wish to trade in arms or any militarily sensitive equipment, they are free to do so under EU law without resorting to a tender. ___

[Pink Panther]

Clan,
Forget about S-92's and so much for the Blackhawks that were mentioned on this BB.6 X LUH's is as good as its going to get.

[Buran]

I think we should keep our hair on.
The most important part of my post was "From this weeks Flight Intl...".

If everything they wrote was true, I .....
...might actually buy it instead of browsing it in Easons.

I agree that the S92s are now a pipe dream, now that SAR is no longer part of the plan. Unless they all of a sudden feel that the troop transport/support role, discussed elsewhere on the board, is now something they want the air corps to do.

[Taj]

According to direct sources the report is untrue.Take it with a pinch of salt.Tendering is still on the cards, although the time-frame mentioned for the announcement is supposed to be accurate.....
Strange though that specific types and numbers were mentioned-indicating that Flight Int had industry sources.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Thats good to hear, it all depends on the publics mood about the economy etc whether the tender is for a military aircraft or not

[clan]

It would have been much easier to sell, if they put SAR in the press release. Taj is right, it is worrying that Flight international were so accurate with the type of Craft, seeing that the Aircorp already know all about the EC135 and they have had a demo of the EC145. Strange.

Taj any news on when this Irish mag is due on the shelves.