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  • SAR Topcover

    Has anyone any stats on the percentage of CG ops that need t/c and also the percentage of same as covered by the Casas in a given year?

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    • Shows the importance the Government place on CASA maritime ops (that could potentially effect availability for SAR topcover).

      Having said that if for example the CASA flew from Baldonnel to Cork and refuelled it could undertake a longer mission. But as I've said before the radar can start detecting targets off the West coast more or less immediately after takeoff.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by DeV View Post
        Having said that if for example the CASA flew from Baldonnel to Cork and refuelled it could undertake a longer mission. But as I've said before the radar can start detecting targets off the West coast more or less immediately after takeoff.
        Ah that old nugget of Air Corps spin.

        Don't forget that although the radar can start searching for targets when it gets to a high enough altitude that ground clutter can be separated from actual targets, the mission requires each vessel to be visually identified and photographed.

        It may take 30 minutes of extra transit time to actually get into that position. Add to that the extra 30 minutes it takes to return to Baldonnel and you have effectively shortened the actual patrol time by 1 hour. Hardly effective use of resources.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by Jetjock View Post
          It may take 30 minutes of extra transit time to actually get into that position. Add to that the extra 30 minutes it takes to return to Baldonnel and you have effectively shortened the actual patrol time by 1 hour. Hardly effective use of resources.
          A lot quicker than an NS vessel will cover the same distance in!

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          • Image of CASA CN235 Range (wikipedia) and Ireland EEZ

            Attached Files
            "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

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            • The radar automatically filters ground clutter so that is a non issue. In a SAR scenario I assume the CG will have a location of the vessel. If not then the casa will prob carryout a search pattern.

              Why would you need to base the aircraft in cork? 1 hours fuel Vs Hangarage, personnel, catering, maintenance etc are all costs that would have to be accounted for. The country isnt that big!! If the aircraft captain believes the mission will go on for longer than 7/8 hours then they can top off the tanks at one of the airports.

              Comment


              • Originally posted by ZULU View Post
                Image of CASA CN235 Range (wikipedia) and Ireland EEZ

                Is that an image of a 1 way or return to EIME Journey?

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                • By Pat Flynn


                  Tuesday August 24 2010

                  A FISHERMAN who suffered a heart attack 400km off the coast yesterday thanked the Coast Guard and the crew of a Spanish hospital ship for saving him.

                  Kevin Bennetts, who is still recovering in his West Cornwall home from his heart attack, believes the Irish Coast Guard was instrumental in saving his life.

                  "The (Coast Guard) staff on Valentia Island made it all happen by tying the ends together.

                  "Fortunately it went well for me due to the consummate professionalism of all involved," he said.

                  On July 24, Mr Bennetts (61), from West Cornwall, was on board the English-registered trawler Ben Loyal, which he co-owns, fishing for tuna 400km south-west of Valentia in Co Kerry.

                  The 18m vessel was two days into its trip when Mr Bennetts began suffering severe chest pains. Having recently undertaken a first aid course, he quickly realised he was suffering from a heart attack.

                  The trawler's skipper contacted Falmouth Coast Guard in England but his boat was more than 160km outside the operating limits of Royal Navy rescue helicopters at Culdrose in Cornwall. The vessel was also outside the range of the nearest Irish Coast Guard helicopter.

                  However, a Spanish-owned hospital ship was only a short distance away and also picked up the distress call. The 'Juan de la Cosa', which accompanies the various fleets of Spanish fishing trawlers in the North Atlantic, was about 15km away and was able to divert and meet with the trawler.

                  Mr Bennetts was transferred by dinghy in rough seas to the floating hospital and taken into care by medics. However, it was decided that the seriously ill fisherman needed to be transferred immediately to a hospital in an operation coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre at Valentia Island.

                  The 'Juan de la Cosa' steamed northwards overnight to rendezvous with the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, which had flown to the limit of its capabilities to meet the ship. Mr Bennetts was airlifted to Shannon Airport then transferred by ambulance to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.

                  - Pat Flynn

                  Irish Independent

                  A good result in the end. Well done boys and girls.
                  Last edited by Helihead; 24 August 2010, 16:03.

                  Comment


                  • thats really quite impressive then. makes you wonder if the CASAs could be better utlilised with wider range of roles or more of the type with different loadouts?
                    An army is power. Its entire purpose is to coerce others. This power can not be used carelessly or recklessly. This power can do great harm. We have seen more suffering than any man should ever see, and if there is going to be an end to it, it must be an end that justifies the cost. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

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                    • Juan De La Costa op

                      Did a CASA do t/c on this op?

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                      • Originally posted by balkanhawk View Post
                        In a SAR scenario I assume the CG will have a location of the vessel. If not then the casa will prob carryout a search pattern.
                        The IRCG will not always have a location but will usually have an approximate/exact position.

                        Why would you need to base the aircraft in cork? 1 hours fuel Vs Hangarage, personnel, catering, maintenance etc are all costs that would have to be accounted for. The country isnt that big!! If the aircraft captain believes the mission will go on for longer than 7/8 hours then they can top off the tanks at one of the airports.
                        We weren't suggesting it (it was if for example it was being used in a MATS role to drop a Minister/VIP to Cork and then carry on a mission). Although deploying the CASAs to Shannon was talked about in the past.



                        Originally posted by ZULU
                        Line represents range of out and return flight.
                        And as a result no search time.


                        Originally posted by X-RayOne View Post
                        thats really quite impressive then. makes you wonder if the CASAs could be better utlilised with wider range of roles or more of the type with different loadouts?


                        Roles include:
                        •Offshore maritime patrol
                        •Inshore maritime patrol
                        •Air ambulance
                        •Military transport
                        •Search and Rescue top cover
                        •Parachuting operations

                        A CASA has even been used for prisioner transport in the past (picked up John Gilligan from the UK and brought him to Baldonnel).

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                        • Does that Casa Radius of Action include time on station or fuel reserves?

                          This mission is the one that started this thread, so no TC provided by AC.

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                          • I posted that link because its the reason this thread started. At the end of the day someboby's life was saved and they are saying a big thankyou for the assistance that was recieved from the IRCG.

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                            • Explore Irish Air Corps’s 1,191 photos on Flickr!


                              Footage/pictures of CASA topcover missions on 21st & 26th August 2010

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                              • A friend sent me a link for the official air corps Twitter account. Seem to be a few topcovers!

                                Irish Air Corps Twitter


                                The Air Corps were proud to carry a young hero,Conor Reidy (6),who underwent a life saving kidney transplant last year in London.Link below!
                                about 22 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone

                                I posted 3 photos on Facebook in the album "Conor Reidy"
                                8:18 AM Sep 8th via Facebook

                                Irish Air Corps CASA "Charlie 252" performed a Top Cover mission for R115 of the Irish Coast Guard yesterday... http://fb.me/FgE3dzsG
                                12:01 PM Aug 27th via Facebook

                                The Air Corps carried out two Air Ambulance missions today. The first involved a CASA aircraft in the transfer of... http://fb.me/G5vyZJtz
                                11:04 AM Aug 25th via Facebook

                                On Saturday evening, 21st Aug 2010, the Air Corps CASA maritime patrol aircraft "Charlie 252" carried out a SAR... http://fb.me/Ga4GhGLQ

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