Heli tenders expected shortly

[Frank]

Tenders being issued for six new Irish Air Corps helicopters

DON LAVERY

THE Irish Air Corps is to get six new helicopters in a mix of two types - including two able to carry a section of nine soldiers.

Helicopter manufacturers are eagerly awaiting tenders, expected to be published this week by the Department of Defence which is seeking four light utility and two larger utility helicopters.

The move comes nearly five months after Minister Michael Smith said a new fleet of light utility helicopters would replace the small Alouette, Dauphin and Gazelle aircraft.

With the Air Corps' main responsibility for search and rescue now privatised, the force is looking at providing more support to the army, including air mobility for troops. As a result, the specification for the new aircraft was changed from only one type of helicopter announced by Mr Smith last December.

The defence forces have also seen how vital air mobility is in the context of modern peace keeping, like the volatile situation in Liberia.

Elements of the Irish army battalion there have been able to conduct long-range patrols hundreds of kilometres from base using giant Ukrainian Air Force Mi-26 helicopters to carry their armoured cars and jeeps; Mi-8s to carry troops and Mi-24 gunships to provide "top cover".

Manufacturers expected to be in contention for the order include Eurocopter with its Ec-135 and Ec-145 helicopters; Agusta with its 109 helicopter, and Sikorsky with its S-76 or Blackhawk.

The six new aircraft will replace 15 light helicopters, some of which were bought in 1963.

The new fleet is also expected to be used for surveillance, inshore rescue, medivac, air ambulance, island relief, hospital transfers and training.

Meanwhile, the Air Corps will take delivery, before June, of the last of the eight Pilatus PC-9m training aircraft which have been bought for €60m.

They can be armed with heavy machine guns and rockets and are expected to play a role enforcing an air exclusion zone over Dromoland Castle and Shannon Airport for the President George W Bush visit.

© Irish Independent

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For those of you with a Unison logon this story can be read here:

Irish Independent article on helicopter tenders

[Lude]

The plot thickens........!

[FiannaFail]

A step in the right direction. A good decision by the Minister for Defence!
FiannaFail '>

[pilatus]

but what about 2larger helis which the government said they would consider buying to augment the LUHs?i think(maybe im wrong)that they said they would talk with sikorsky about s92s again?if sikorsky wins the tender with s76s or s70s its most likely theyd buy the s92 for commonality such as spares pilot training. '>

Kiss goodbye to medium lift helis unless the 'next' minister for defence decides to reverse Smith's decision and put the Air Corps back on SAR. As for LUH, they had better buy a military helicopter, because the first time I see one of the new LUH (one of the larger ones) painted up in a poxy, non-descript, neutral gloss grey carrying a bunch of not very VIPs from a Fianna Fail govt around the country while the army are begging for heli training and support, I'll puke. And I would imagine many of the Air Corps pilots that still have any sense of military duty will feel exactly the same.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Helis that might reasonably fit the description of LUH:

Bell 212

Quote

Crew (Visual Flight Rules) 1 pilot Passengers 9 Useful Range (Full fuel) 290 Nautical Miles Cruising Speed 100 Knots Fuel Burn Rate 380 Litres/Hour Empty Weight (Standard Configuration) 3300 Kilograms Crew Weight 83 Kilograms Full Fuel Weight 770 Kilograms Max. Gross Weight 5080 Kilograms Payload (combination of fuel and cargo) 1500 Kilograms Length x Width x Height 17.5m x 2.9m x 4m

Info

Sikorsky S-76

Quote

First Flight Primer Vuelo 19??  Engine Motor 2 Turbomeca Arriel 281   Seating Capacity Plazas 1 / 13  Power Potencia 794SHP each TOff 794 SHP Cont   Empty Weight Peso Vacío 8138 Lbs  Hover Ceiling O.G.E. Estacionario O.G.E 1800 Fts   Maximum Weight Peso Máximo 11700 Lbs  Hover Ceiling I.G.E. Estacionario I.G.E 5650 Fts   Vel. Cruise Vel. crucero 139 Kts  Service Ceiling Techo de Servicio  Fts   V.N.E. V.N.E 155 Kts  Maximum Range (Std) Alcance (Std) 438 NM

Info

A109

Quote

First Flight Primer Vuelo 19?? Engine Motor  2 Allison 250 C20R/1   Seating Capacity Plazas 1 / 7  Power Potencia 450 SHP each 400 SHP Cont   Empty Weight Peso Vacío 3532 Lbs  Hover Ceiling O.G.E. Estacionario O.G.E 6100 Ft   Maximum Weight Peso Máximo 6283 Lbs  Hover Ceiling I.G.E. Estacionario I.G.E 9700 Ft   Vel. Cruise Vel. crucero 131 Kts  Service Ceiling Techo de Servicio  15000 Ft   V.N.E. V.N.E 152 Kts  Maximum Range (Std) Alcance (Std) 352 NM

Info

Quote

AB139–Bell/Agusta Aerospace Corp. (BAAC) just before Christmas delivered the first copy of its new medium twin configured for passenger transportation to Italian charter operator Elilario, based near Lake Como in northern Italy. (At the same time, Elilario also took delivery of a new utility AB412 and A109E Power.) The new medium twin was launched at the Paris Air Show in 1999 and earned Italian ENAC certification in June last year; FAA approval is scheduled for the first half of this year. The AB139 has been designed to offer enormous flexibility, with its giant box of a cabin capable of carrying 283 cu ft of payload or up to 15 passengers at 400 nm 160 knots.

Info

[sledger]

Dail Question 11/05/2004
57. Mr. Howlin    asked the Minister for Defence   when a decision will be made on the provision of light utility and medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13398/04]

 Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):    The procurement process for the acquisition of new helicopters for the Air Corps has commenced with the preparation of the tender documents in my Department. Following discussions between senior officials in my Department and the military authorities, it has been decided that up to six helicopters will be acquired, two light utility helicopters primarily for Air Corps crew training purposes and four larger utility helicopters for use in support of the Army and for other ancillary uses such as air ambulance. The new aircraft will replace the current fleet of Dauphin, Alouette and Gazelle aircraft. It is expected that the relevant notice for the tender competition will be sent by my Department to the Official Journal of the European Communities shortly.

The procurement of modern light utility helicopters will provide a significant boost to the Air Corps in available flying hours at reduced maintenance costs, compared to the existing aircraft in the Air Corps helicopter wing. It will also provide increased capability in the roles currently undertaken by the existing Air Corps light utility helicopters.

My decision to proceed with the tender competition was based on the recommendations in the report of the Joint Military-Civil Board, which examined the rotary wing requirements of the Air Corps. The report of the board also dealt with the procurement of medium lift helicopters for the search and rescue service in the longer term. However, as the Air Corps will no longer be providing this service, this part of the report will not be implemented.

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

Going by the Minister's response in the Dail it looks like Don Lavery got his numbers wrong, the Department will be issuing a tender shortly for:

2 Light Utility Helicopters

Quote

....two light utility helicopters primarily for Air Corps crew training purposes....

4 Utility Helicopters

Quote

....four larger utility helicopters for use in support of the Army and for other ancillary uses such as air ambulance....

Keep an eye on this website for the tender documents:

http://www.etenders.gov.ie


Regards,

Frank.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

its a start but 4 utility heli's is nowhere near enough, with only four choppers you can expect 2 to be up at any one time, how can the corps support the army with so few a/c and do all the other jobs too.

[dangermouse]

Nobody had mentioned the Lynx in this debate, surely it is an option, the new Lynx 300 has an all glass cockpit....... can carry nine passengers, has a good range etc... and the Lynx is already in service around the world .....

[sealion]

9 passengers,maybe....9 fully equipped soldiers,wearing webbing and carrying a weapon on the other hand.....

Have you ever tried to get on a bus wearing a rucksack?
How about a mini-bus? Same difference really.

[pilatus]

exactly right sealion never mind just a weapon but maybe gpmg or a milan anti tank weapon and spare milan shells both used by the infantry the choppers will support!

You never hear of slingloading?

[pilatus]

yes scorpy i have heard of sling loading but flying a section of men into a combat situation with a sling under it isnt practicle unless you have gunship cover as you have to hover and let ground personnel unhook the load while leaving your chopper open to SAM's or other weapons they would be sitting ducks!and whats more is with a sling you have fly slower again your left vulnerable to small arms fire! '>

[Turkey]

Also, you have to approch at a higher altitude, and then have a steeper decent, possably faster, before landing.
I think the only time slung loads are used is outside of combat, it certainly seems, to me, to make things a lot harder.