From Facebook.
Today while one of our Casa Maritime Patrol Aircraft was on a High Level Patrol, close to Rockall, it received notice from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight of a casualty on board a vessel off the South Coast of Ireland. The crew contacted Air Corps Operations to receive more information and took up a course towards the vessel.
Charlie 253 made a 805 kilometer dash in 2 hours to take up station overhead the yacht and offer assistance to the responding UK Coastguard helicopter which arrived 25 minutes later.
Charlie253 remained at 17,000ft to track the inbound helicopter, casualty yacht and a nearby freighter on radar and AIS. The crew provided a communications relay and gave the helicopter 'terminal guidance/vectors' to expedite the rendezvous.
Charlie253 escorted the helicopter until it was within 100 kilometers of the Scilly Isles. The total airborne time for the Irish Air Corps aircraft was 7hours and 38 minutes. This type of mission shows the aircraft's impressive Reach, Endurance and Utility.
Charlie 253 made a 805 kilometer dash in 2 hours to take up station overhead the yacht and offer assistance to the responding UK Coastguard helicopter which arrived 25 minutes later.
Charlie253 remained at 17,000ft to track the inbound helicopter, casualty yacht and a nearby freighter on radar and AIS. The crew provided a communications relay and gave the helicopter 'terminal guidance/vectors' to expedite the rendezvous.
Charlie253 escorted the helicopter until it was within 100 kilometers of the Scilly Isles. The total airborne time for the Irish Air Corps aircraft was 7hours and 38 minutes. This type of mission shows the aircraft's impressive Reach, Endurance and Utility.
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