Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:11 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if (a) his Department or (b) the Air Corps made the decision on 30 January 1990 for the Dauphin helicopter not to take off at 21.18 hours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Helicopter Mission.
The decision to request an RAF Sea King helicopter from Brawdy in Wales, instead of an Air Corps helicopter, to undertake the mission on 30 January 1990 arose from a discussion between the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre and the officer in charge of the Air Corps Unit at Shannon Airport.
The Sea King was recommended for the mission because, with its greater endurance and capacity, it had a better prospect of saving lives in the conditions obtaining.