Corporate Image of the IAC

How do people view the entire corporate image of the Air Corps from an external pov? Green or blue uniforms? Green  or grey aircraft or stick with the current colours, including SAR varients? 'Airbase' or 'Aerodrome'? What about the military approach to self agrandoisement or non-existance thereof? Comments?

What about something simple like flying suits? Everywhere I've heard people mistake Air Corps crews for Guards, civil formation teams, car mechanics etc and all because of blue flying suits. I have no objection to the blue dress uniform, but the IAC public image is more likely to be presented to the world by it's operational face, not it's 'parade face' as such. It also looks a bit silly when you are on a troop mission on the ground and you stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the DPM. I would like to see a return to green flying gear.

[Silver]

I may be somewhat biased (being an AC supporter) but -

1. Blue uniform
2. Mixture of colours i.e. Grey helis for naval ops, green for army-co op, grey for PC-9's, current colours for MATS aircraft (with 'IRISH AIR CORPS  AER CHOR NA hEIREANN' on both sides)
3. Airbase
4. Most people, who I have brought up the subject with, don't have a clue about the Air Corps, e.g. (actual quotes - different people)
 "They are Army helicopters overhead" ,
 "Army - Air Corps, same thing !" ,
"The Air Corps has about 3 or 4 planes and 3 or 4 helicopters"

(when the heli contract was cancelled -)
"Sure what do they need helicopters for anyway !" ,
 "The Air Corps had better/more planes during WWII !"


.......and those quotes were from the few who actually know we have some form of AC/Air Force  '>

[alpha foxtrot 07]

dont agree with the flight suit idea bro those flight suit are the envie of every non aer corps pilot who see's them. whats wrong with the army knowing that there's a super human aer corps pilot in there presence, for we all know that all they want is to were blue and get out of the dirt.
as far as the image, when i was asked what i did and i said i was in the aer corps the general reaction was 'we have one of those' also the reaction gat worse the farther away from dublin you got

[FiannaFail]

Guys,
I agree with much that has be written here.  The important issue here is how do we (all citizens) raise the importance of Defence on the political agenda?  I bet if a radom survey of 100 people of the top deck of the 46A Bus was conducted  we would be very luckly to get 1 person to identify defence as a major political concern.  In order that we get more investment into our Defence Forces we have to move the defence issue much higher on the political agenda.  It is easy to blame politicians generally  or individually but they respond by nature to the feelings on the ground.  I personally welcome Fine Gael's policy announcement regarding neutrality as hopefully it will allow a debate around defence to commence.  Remember it was the campaign by one women in Donegal that led to the agreement to purchase the Dauphin helicopters and having them stationed in different centres other than just the Don.  Any ideas how we can develop the defence concerns as an important political issue, especially with the European and local authority elections next summer?  If defence and especially Air Defence becomes a bigger political issue the chances of increased investment would follow regardless of which political parties are in power.  Any ideas folks?
FiannaFail '>

[Silver]

I recall hearing an Air Corps Silver Swallows pilot saying (on the Air Corps 75 video) that when they won the Lockheed Martin Canestra trophy at Fairford Airshow in 1997, a lot of other particpants were congratulating him and the team, and saying things like  -
"The Irish Air Corps ?" and,
"Are you guys part of the RAF ?"

 '>

[Fouga]

"Army - Air Corps, same thing !"

Silver that is actually true as the AC is in fact a branch of the Army.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

yea and the guys telling the ladies they were the F-117 pilots, which worked because  of the dark flight suit

[John K]

Hey FF, I bet you've never had to walk down to the Holyrood hotel in Bundoran for a meal 'cos the food in Finner camp was so bad! When the Air Corps finds itself a role then it can plan ahead. Neutrality is a good idea, but in the real world, what about a common European defence policy? Ireland can't sit back and just expect the UK to defend it like it did in the last world war, can it? Ireland is wholehartedly into Europe, so why not get involved in a European Defence Group?

[Bailer]

Quote

Originally posted byScorpy It also looks a bit silly when you are on a troop mission on the ground and you stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the DPM. I would like to see a return to green flying gear.

Scorpy the Air Corps, like the Naval Service all wear DPM on troop Missions. They Even have their Rank markings in the subdued slider and the Black black Beret with appropriate badge.

Regrards etc.

Bailer.

[John K]

Mind you, one of my abiding memories is of running across the Parade Square in Finner, on Christmas Night with a cooked turkey under my arm, just relocated from the NCO's mess kitchen to our Billet! Myself and Franz W****r lived off that carcass for the rest of the week! A few years later I topped it with a trifle! Anyone in Heli Flight just ask John G***n! Ahhh! those were the days!

[Fouga]

Yeah i heard that one when people thought they were stealth pilots cuz they had the ray bans on aswell!

[Silver]

Fouga,
My point is that when I mentioned "Air Corps" (which the person didn't know existed!) he said "Army-Air Corps , same thing" - i.e. it highlights the AC's low profile.

Bailer, when I said 'troop missions', I meant those involving us sitting in some sort of aircraft at the pointy end and acting as taxi driver for those nice individuals in the back. Not those where we sit at a desk in a hot place and get to answer odd questions from people who don't know much about why a helicopter can't avoid getting shot down by nasty men with rpg's and the like. Our troop missions take place in the home theatre, where EVEN the nice men in DPM occasionally mistake Air Corps personnel for Gardai when we go out on the ground with them. We want to blend in a bit better when the rest of the troops are trying not to be seen.

[Fouga]

And if you were to say Air Force they would laugh am i right? That is the way things are going