Bristow Ireland crew have flown to the west coast to give people a first-hand look at the new AW 189 helicopter which it will be flying for the Irish Coast Guard under the new ten-year contract.

Crew dropped in at the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-ordination Sub-centres (MRSC) at Malin in north Donegal and Valentia, Co Kerry in recent days.

They also visited the Irish Lights refuelling site landing site at Blacksod, north Mayo, and Castletownbere, west Cork, to give local people and emergency services a first-hand introduction to the aircraft.

The crew spent some time with the Dublin Fire Brigade Marine Incident Response Group (MIRG), practising loading and unloading the special equipment.

“A safe and effective search and rescue network needs different elements to work together in harmony,” said Bristow Ireland director Phillip Bartlett.

“The Dublin Fire Brigade MIRG is one important group who we are looking forward to working alongside for years to come as we start to phase in new technology and new equipment to continuously grow and develop this vital service,” he said.

The transition to the new contract will get underway this autumn, with new aircraft and equipment coming on-line throughout 2025.

The aircraft is one element of a new contract which will see Bristow Ireland provide the Irish Coast Guard with aviation support from four bases – Waterford, Weston, Sligo and Shannon.

Irish Coast Guard funding has contributed to Kerry Mountain Rescue Team’s (KMRT) new base extension in Killarney.

The extension opened last week will provide much needed space for equipment drying, vehicle and equipment storage, training and toilet facilities.

Many long-serving volunteers with the team attended the opening, where they were joined by representatives of the Irish Coast Guard to witness the ribbon being cut by Christy McCarthy, a lifelong member and former chairman.

The team’s base at Killarney Garda Station was opened in 2004 after a sustained period of fundraising and a capital grant from the Irish Coast Guard along with nominal lease of the site from the Department of Justice.

A proud moment for Christy McCarthy, and his Grandchildren, Henry and Saffron McCarthy who had the honours of cutting the ribbon, as former Chairman of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, at the official opening of its new base extension and open day to mark the occasion. Also included from left, Superintendent Killarney Garda Station, Dave Callaghan and Divisional controller with the Irish Coast Guard at Valentia John Draper, former Chairman, Jimmy Laide. Kerry Mountain Rescue base is situated on the grounds of Killarney Garda Station. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

KMRT was founded after several fatal accidents over two days in Easter 1966, when a student from University College Dublin and a teenage member of an English school party died on Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest peak.

Spearheaded by Frank Lewis of Killarney, early members of the mountain rescue team included Paddy O’Callaghan, Stan Brick, Gearóid O’Sullivan and Richard Morrison. Killarney solicitor Terence Casey and restaurateur Johnny McGuire played key roles as it developed.

Besides Irish Coast Guard and Kerry County Council grant support, the team relies on donations and fundraising to cover annual operating costs of over €50,000.

Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter contractor CHC Ireland has settled its legal action against Bristow Ireland.

However, the company’s separate legal action against the Minister and Department of Transport over awarding the new Irish Coast Guard contract to Bristow Ireland is “ongoing”, the department says.

CHC Ireland withdrew its legal proceedings against Bristow Ireland, which were due to be heard in the High Court earlier this month, and both it and Bristow Ireland have engaged in formal mediation discussions.

They say they have secured an agreement for “the safe and seamless transition of search and rescue staff, as part of the forthcoming phased transition of the Irish search and rescue contract to Bristow Ireland”.

The agreement “secures ongoing protection of those actively claiming under CHC’s permanent health insurance (PHI) policy and an agreement which finalises any outstanding liability of pilots bonded to CHC”, Bristow Ireland has said.

Agreement was also reached which enables certain CHC Ireland managers to stay in post until the end of that company’s contract, it has said.

This ensures that CHC Ireland can “continue to fill mandatory Irish Aviation Authority regulated roles until the last base transfers in June 2025, following which those managers will return to their bases as line crew”, Bristow Ireland has said.

The two helicopter companies say they have “committed to a series of regular and proactive engagements to ensure the safe and orderly transition of the life-saving service starting with the forthcoming transition of the Shannon base and crew”.

The new Irish Coast Guard SAR contract involves Bristow Ireland using six search and rescue-configured AW189 helicopters at dedicated bases in Shannon, Sligo, Waterford, and Weston airport on the Dublin-Kildare border.

Bristow Ireland says it has reached a “major milestone” with Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) approval for its new base a Weston Airport.

The company, which was awarded the new Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter contract, has opted to relocate the Dublin airport helicopter base to Weston on the Kildare border.

Bristow Ireland says that the IAA has granted part 145 approval for the base.

“The accreditation, achieved after months of hard work, confirms that the team and the facility meet or exceed all the standards for maintenance, repairs and inspections for the AW189 helicopter, which will be phased-in to deliver lifesaving search and rescue operations under the new contract for the Irish Coast Guard, “the company says.

“It gives the Bristow Ireland engineers at Weston Airport the authority to carry out critical engineering and maintenance operations,”it says.

“They are cleared to complete all the essential tasks which will keep the new helicopter fleet flying safe, day and night, as the transition period begins,”it added.

“This accreditation is particularly noteworthy as it not only covers line maintenance – when helicopters are inspected and routine maintenance is carried out on a daily basis – it also covers base maintenance, when aircraft undergo much deeper and more significant scheduled work, so Bristow Ireland can carry out major repairs and modifications at the Weston base,”it says.

“I’m immensely proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get to this stage and make Part 145 approval in Ireland a reality,” John Keane, Part 145 Maintenance Manager for Bristow Ireland, said.

Keane and Bristow Ireland Chief Engineer Enda McNeill started on the project five months ago, the company says.

“It was a demanding timeframe but with the support of the wider team we made it happen. Now we are ready for the arrival of the first aircraft,”they state.

Bristow Ireland director Philip Bartlett said “This is a significant moment in our support for the future of search and rescue in Ireland”.

“It falls right on-schedule as we look towards phasing in new bases, new aircraft and new technology over the managed transition period,”it says, paying tribute to the team and the IAA for its “continued and ongoing support”.

Bristow Ireland Ltd has said its new search and rescue (SAR) base at Weston airport on the outskirts of Dublin is “more suitable” for SAR operations.

The company which is taking over the new Irish Coast Guard SAR contract recently received planning permission for a new building at the Weston airport as part of its transition.

In a statement, Bristow Ireland said it has partnered with Weston Airport management in the construction of a new SAR facility that includes a hangar, support workshops, offices, and accommodation of the on-call SAR crew.

All heavy maintenance requirements for the fleet of six Leonardo AW189 Irish Coast Guard helicopters will be carried out in the new facility, it says.

“Bristow is delighted about the achievement of a major planning milestone in welcoming the granting of planning permission for the new facility building,” said Philip Bartlett, Bristow’s Irish SAR director.

Bristow Ireland’s operations will also be headquartered at Weston Airport, where the company currently has an operating administration and management facility.

Bristow Ireland says it has also temporarily leased a hangar in Weston Airport and sub-licensed part of a hangar at Shannon Airport and has been steadily building up to its helicopter maintenance approval from the Irish Aviation Authority which is “expected in the short-term”.

As The Journal reported last week, there have been concerns among some air crew currently with CHC Ireland about the transition to the new employer.

The Irish Independent also reported last Saturday that existing operator CHC Ireland is pursuing its legal action against Bristow.

In its statement, Bristow Ireland says it “continues to make progress in its collaborative employee outreach and engagement plans, which are an important part of ensuring a smooth and managed transition to the new contract later in the year”.

“The company has taken a collaborative approach and recently reached framework agreements with each of the three major unions representing pilots, technical crews and specialist engineers – IALPA, Forsa, and Unite. The company continues collaborative and ongoing dialogue with each of the three unions,”it said.

“All staff of the three unions are highly valued and we look forward to welcoming them to Bristow,” Bartlett said.

“The company has received positive feedback, including well-attended and enthusiastic participation at a number of base-level employee engagements,”Bartlett said.

“Most recently, Bristow held a series of engagement opportunities in Shannon where there was a high-level of participation from existing staff.”

Bristow says it “remains committed to establishing pathways for personnel currently servicing the existing SAR contract to join Bristow and will continue its outreach, recruiting and evaluation efforts to ensure a successful transition in the best interest of this enhanced, life-saving service”.

“The company has provided firm commitments for all staff who are transitioning across in relation to their existing terms and conditions including full recognition of all service,”it said.

“The company continues to engage with officials and representatives and if any new issues arise, Bristow and the relative parties have agreed mechanisms in place to deal with them,”it said.

The new SAR contract involves Bristow Ireland using six SAR-configured AW189 helicopters at dedicated bases in Shannon, Sligo, Waterford, and Weston.

“In an expansion to the current service, the new contract will include a day and night fixed-wing service operating out of Shannon,”it says.

On Sunday, July 28th, a fishing vessel spotted a body at sea between Doolin and the Aran Islands, prompting a response from the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia. The Doolin Coast Guard Unit boat team, with assistance from the Aran Islands RNLI, successfully located and recovered the body, which was later transferred to An Garda Siochána.

Following the recovery operation, the search around the Cliffs of Moher and surrounding sea areas has been suspended.

In a statement, the Irish Coast Guard expressed gratitude to the volunteer Coast Guard Units from Doolin, Cleggan, Inisheer, Costelloe Bay, Killaloe, Aran Islands lifeboat, Coast Guard helicopter R115, and the member of the Civil Defence for their dedicated participation in the search effort since July 24th.

The Coast Guard said it extends condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and acknowledged the support and collaboration of all involved in the operation."

The body of a man has been recovered off the north shore at Cloonamore, Inishbofin in Co Galway.

Malin Head Coast Guard was notified by radio at about 10.15 pm last night that a fisherman was overdue and presumed missing off Inishbofin.

A search of the area on the east and north coastline took place, with Coast Guard Helicopter R118 on the scene.

Lifeboats from Clifden RNLI were also launched.

It was confirmed just before midnight that the body of the fisherman had been located by local members of the community on the northern shore of the island.

The man's remains were transferred to Inishbofin Airfield before being taken by lifeboat to Clifden.

In a statement, the Coast Guard extended its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Multipurpose maritime operations in Europe were discussed by three partner EU agencies at an event hosted by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) in Tenerife, Spain, last week.

The seventh annual European Coast Guard event was co-organised with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).

The event gathered around 100 representatives responsible for coast guard functions from 22 EU member states, along with representatives from the European Commission and the three EU agencies.

Frontex was the focus of an EU Ombudsman inquiry last year in relation to how it complies with its fundamental rights obligations on search and rescue in the context of its maritime surveillance activities - in particular the Adriana shipwreck in which over 600 migrants died off the Greek coast.

The inquiry found that Frontex had “followed the applicable rules and protocols but demonstrated shortcomings” in how it reacts in maritime emergency situations in which it becomes involved, either in the context of joint maritime operations or its separate multipurpose aerial surveillance activities.

The annual European Coast Guard event “serves as a forum for providing consultation and feedback on the agencies’ cross-sectoral and cross-border cooperation activities,” the EFCA said.

“EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex support member states in the implementation of different coast guard functions, such as fisheries control, maritime safety, border control and search and rescue, under the framework of the European Coast Guard co-operation,”it said.

The Tenerife event also provided the opportunity to present the results and prizes under the “Greening Award” initiative, which aims to celebrate the sustainability actions that are being carried out by coast guard authorities all over Europe.

Susan Steele, executive director of the EFCA, praised the achievements of the interagency cooperation:

“The three partner EU agencies in the maritime domain have established since 2017 a unique cooperation framework involving their respective member state competent authorities and the European Commission,”she said.

“After these seven years, we are now at full speed in terms of our cooperation with very concrete examples. It is clear that the European co-operation on Coast Guard functions is an added value for member states’ fisheries control authorities and for EFCA,”she said.

“This will also benefit the needed future developments under the revised EU fisheries control system,”she said.

A British aviation and aerospace company has created an Irish subsidiary to supply two King Air aircraft for the new Irish Coast Guard contract.

2Excel Aviation has formed 2Excel Ireland to provide fixed-wing Coast Guard Services for Bristow Ireland.

This follows the Government’s award to Bristow of a 10-year contract (with extension options of up to three years) to deliver search and rescue (SAR) and other aviation services for the Irish Coast Guard.

The aircraft will also provide “top cover” support for the fleet of six specialist AW189 helicopters, operated by Bristow Ireland, together delivering the next generation of lifesaving SAR for the country, it says.

Eugene Quigley, newly appointed accountable manager for 2Excel Ireland, said it is “a very exciting development for 2Excel and an opportunity to replicate our service, skills, and expertise, already proven in the SAR environment”.

“With aircraft modifications that have been designed and engineered to our own specifications, we are also pleased to be continuing our successful partnership with Bristow in providing critical life-saving services and environmental monitoring at sea ,”he said.

Bristow Ireland signed a new aviation services contract with the Department of Transport in August 2023.

The transition to the new service is at an advanced stage with the first new helicopter due to enter service later this year.

2Excel says it has already begun recruiting for a number of specialist vacancies for the fixed wing operation, including pilots, engineers, and sensor operators, and is “keen to hear from those with the required qualifications and experience”.

British air assets assisted the Irish Coast Guard with two medical evacuations off the Irish coast within a two-day period.

A British Coast Guard Rescue99 aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June 9) in a medical evacuation.

The long-range evacuation was from a merchant vessel approximately 160 nautical miles off the southwest Irish coast at 9 am on Sunday.

In a statement, the Irish Coast Guard said the merchant vessel had contacted the Irish Coast Guard on Friday, June 7th, reporting a seriously ill crew member.

“Following a link call coordinated by the Valentia Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre between the vessel and MEDICO Cork, it was determined that a medical evacuation was required at the earliest opportunity,” it said in the statement issued through the Department of Transport press office.

“After proceeding to within range of the coast the vessel rendezvoused with Rescue 115 helicopter approximately 160 nautical miles from the SW coast. The UK Coastguard aircraft RESCUE99 provided top cover support for the helicopter operating at long range,” it said.

“The Irish Coast Guard can confirm that the crew member was landed safely at Kerry University Hospital in the south-west for medical attention later on Sunday morning, and the vessel resumed passage,” it said.

“This is the second long-range medical evacuation coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard in recent days,”it said.

“On Friday, the Waterford Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter - using Cork Airport to extend range – successfully completed a medical evacuation of an ill crew member from another merchant vessel,” it said.

“This operation was coordinated with and supported by the UK and Danish authorities following an alert from the vessel,”it said.

The statement did not comment on press reports over the weekend that the Air Corps did not have an aircraft available for top cover for the June 7th mission to evacuate a crew member from a Danish merchant vessel.

The UK Defence Journal reported that a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon aircraft was “urgently deployed to aid in a maritime rescue operation off the coast of Cork … due to the unavailability of suitable Irish aircraft”.