Written Answers. - Air Corps Training.
Michael Bell
Ceist:
22
Mr. Bell
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, Equality and Law Reform on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18310/01]
On 12 May 1999 during an operation in the ClareGalway region, the Garda Air Support Unit, GASU, helicopter which is piloted by Air Corps personnel 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.
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. Eurocopter was not able to offer a suitable AS 355F2 helicopter which they could guarantee and support.
Discussions took place with the military authorities and the Air Corps and it was decided to attempt to acquire on the open market a used AS 355N helicopter, a later model of the F2 also manufactured by Eurocopter. The tender documentation was prepared and on 27 September 2000 a request for tender for the supply of one used AS 355N helicopter to the Department of Defence issued to a total of 15 companies. The closing date for receipt of tenders was 12 October 2000.
The result of the tender competition indicated that there were very few AS 355N helicopters available on the open market. Six responses were received some of which offered different helicopter types which could not be considered. Essentially, the valid tenders from three companies related to the same, AS 355N helicopter which was available in the Philippines. Having considered the responses and the various factors involved, the option to look further into the possible purchase of this helicopter was not taken up by the Department.
All options for the provision of night flying training of Air Corps pilots for the GASU are under active consideration in my Department but the prospect of obtaining a second-hand Squirrel helicopter for this work are not good given our experience in the tender competitions and the buoyancy of the market for such helicopters.
This matter is the subject of ongoing discussion between my Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
