Written Answers. - Defence Forces.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:
65
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Defence
the position regarding the provision of night flying training for Air Corps pilots servicing the Garda air support unit; the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30653/01]
Phil Hogan
Question:
71
Mr. Hogan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the situation regarding the Air Corps assisted Garda air support unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30598/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 71 together.
On 23 April 1996 the Government approved the establishment of a dedicated Garda air support unit, GASU, as recommended in the report of the interdepartmental group on air support for the Garda Síochána. The service provided through the Garda air support unit which was inaugurated in September 1997 comprises Garda Síochána and Air Corps personnel and operates from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The Garda Síochána are responsible for the operational control and policing functions, while the Air Corps personnel have responsibility for the flying and maintenance functions of the service. Two aircraft are operated by the Air Corps on behalf of the Garda Síochána, one twin engine AS355N Squirrel Helicopter and one Defender 4000 fixed wing aircraft. On 10 November 1998 the Government approved the acquisition of a second twin engine helicopter with a 24 hour capability for the GASU. This new helicopter, an EC 135, is due for delivery in the very near future. The Government decided on 20 November 2001 to contract out the piloting and maintenance of the new Garda EC 135 helicopter for a trial period of at least 12 months and the establishment of an interdepartmental committee to facilitate, oversee and assess the trial taking into account existing Air Corps services in this area. This decision does not effect the current piloting and maintenance service for existing GASU aircraft which, as stated, is provided at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
With regard to the question of night flying training for Air Corps pilots, on 12 May 1999, during an operation in the Clare-Galway region, the Garda air support unit helicopter inadvertently entered cloud. Contact was lost with the ground target, the mission was aborted and the helicopter proceeded to Shannon Airport.
The incident was the subject of an investigation carried out by the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise. A report was subsequently published and this included a number of recommendations, one of which was that "the Air Corps should suspend GASU night operations in rural areas with immediate effect until an effective programme of extra night flying is completed by Air Corps GASU pilots". This recommendation was implemented.
In order to facilitate an effective programme of training which would not impinge on the ongoing GASU operation, I announced, in February 2000, that a Squirrel helicopter was to be acquired for the Air Corps as soon as possible for the purpose of pilot training in connection with the operation of the GASU. Work began in the Department on the preparation of the tender documentation and on 22 May 2000, a request for tender for the supply of one used Squirrel AS 355F2 helicopter to the Department of Defence issued.
The AS 355F2 helicopter was manufactured by Eurocopter in France between 1988 and 1995. As the Department ideally required a helicopter which would be backed up by the manufacturer from the point of view of warranties, maintenance and support, the tender documentation issued only to Eurocopter through their Irish agent, Atron based in Sandyford, Dublin 18. However, Eurocopter was not able to offer a suitable AS 355F2 helicopter which they could guarantee and support.
Efforts to acquire on the open market a used AS 355N helicopter, a later model of the F2 also manufactured by Eurocopter were also not successful. The prospect of obtaining a second hand Squirrel helicopter for this work are not good given the experience in the tender competitions and the buoyancy of the market for such helicopters.
This matter is the subject of on-going communication between my Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 43.
