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Air Corps Not Asked To Tender For SAR Contract

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  • #1

    Air Corps Not Asked To Tender For SAR Contract

    I'm just wondering why the second article from the Indo today about WHY the Government dismissed the Air Corps proposal for the new SAR contract wasn't included in the news forum? Lest we forget......


    By Shane Phelan

    Saturday August 07 2010

    CANADIAN firm CHC is one of the world's largest commercial helicopter companies, operating in more than 30 countries.

    Its largest international operations are in Australia, Norway, Holland, South Africa and the UK. The company's main focus is on providing helicopter transportation for offshore oil and gas rigs.

    It won the contract for Irish maritime search and rescue in 2004 after the then Defence Minister Michael Smith decided to step down from the Air Corps, which had provided the service for 40 years.

    The move followed industrial unrest in the Air Corps, including an outbreak of "blue flu" at its base in Sligo.

    CHC's Irish operation provides a search-and-rescue service for the Coast Guard with a range of 200 nautical miles. Each year, it gets about 150 search and rescue callouts to its bases in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford. A Cork base provides transportation for the oil and gas industry.

    - Shane Phelan

    Irish Independent

    http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-2288104.html
    Last edited by Jessup; 7 August 2010, 18:09.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    A little bit more research on this would have told the journalist that CHC have not had a Cork operation since the new year.It's also more like 150 taskings per base.

    Comment

    • #3
      Who operates the red EC 135? in Cork then?
      "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?"

      Comment

      • #4
        Bond Helicopters

        CORK, Ireland, Sept. 21 -- Bond Air Services (Ireland) Ltd., Cheltenham, Ireland, won a 10 million EUR contract award from Marathon Oil Ireland Ltd. (name changed to PSE Kinsale Energy Ltd.) to provide helicopter air transportation services in Cork, Ireland (Ref. No. ENQUIRY IRE 0901).



        http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1862694271.html

        Comment

        • #5
          Firstly, congrats to the Indo on another wildly inaccurate article. Main points already covered.

          Secondly the Minister legally had no option but to decline this meeting. John O Brien is NOT a member of the Defence Forces speaking on their behalf he is a CIVILIAN that may or may not have connections to Agusta. The Minister, if he had agreed to have spoken to this individual would have broken all EU tendering regulations. If the Air Corps want something then THEY must put forward good reason to do so, its not as if this tender appeared out of the blue with no warning, they only had five years notice!. Instead they wait to the last minute and use back door political and media methods to try and get their way.

          Thirdly, even if they had the equipment that doesn't say they could do the job. Look at the previous threads on the CASA ops. Funny thing lack of ministerial direction is used as an excuse on the other threads to defend the lack of CASA ops but then when they get direction on SAR they throw punches at their own minister because its not what they want. Very two faced.

          Finally, notice how to date not a one single helicopter pilot (Bar Pete Mc Mahon who hasnt flown since Ponchus was a pilot), crewman or engineer have spoken out on behalf of SAR going to the AC. Speaks volumes.

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by Tadpole View Post
            If the Air Corps want something then THEY must put forward good reason to do so, its not as if this tender appeared out of the blue with no warning, they only had five years notice!. Instead they wait to the last minute and use back door political and media methods to try and get their way.
            You are suggesting that the AC but a former GOC up to it. I very much doubt that is the case!

            Finally, notice how to date not a one single helicopter pilot (Bar Pete Mc Mahon who hasnt flown since Ponchus was a pilot), crewman or engineer have spoken out on behalf of SAR going to the AC. Speaks volumes.
            Maybe because legislation (rightly) prevents them from doing so

            Comment

            • #7
              You are suggesting that the AC but a former GOC up to it. I very much doubt that is the case!
              If these people have had no contact with members of the Corps how are they even capable of advising on what the AC can or cannot do and what modifications are required to the aircraft. Face it, this is either lead through the back door from within the AC or these are nothing more then industry minions who do not represent the AC or their views. Your choice.

              Maybe because legislation (rightly) prevents them from doing so
              Sorry for not being clear. Of all the people that have experience in AC SAR operations not one FORMER member of No3 Operations (Support) wing has spoken up on the ACs behalf. Not one. Maybe they have more insight into the requirements of SAR then retired fixed wing pilots and AC management and are quietly happy with the outcome.
              Last edited by Tadpole; 7 August 2010, 22:56.

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              • #8
                Maybe less blue flu to deal with as well...!

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by Jessup View Post
                  I'm just wondering why the second article from the Indo today about WHY the Government dismissed the Air Corps proposal for the new SAR contract wasn't included in the news forum? Lest we forget......
                  Did you try posting it yourself?
                  "The dolphins were monkeys that didn't like the land, walked back to the water, went back from the sand."

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by A/TEL View Post
                    Bond Helicopters

                    CORK, Ireland, Sept. 21 -- Bond Air Services (Ireland) Ltd., Cheltenham, Ireland, won a 10 million EUR contract award from Marathon Oil Ireland Ltd. (name changed to PSE Kinsale Energy Ltd.) to provide helicopter air transportation services in Cork, Ireland (Ref. No. ENQUIRY IRE 0901).



                    http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1862694271.html
                    Cool. Thanks for that info.
                    "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?"

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Looking on facebook Chris Reynolds, Dir of IRCG issued a full statement (and can be viewed on his facebook page) on their behalf, in reply to this article to the Irish Independent. The paper according to him did not use one word from that statement. A very balanced article indeed then. Heres a copy of the reply I scanned, not great quality, give it a try.
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by Helihead; 8 August 2010, 17:20.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Helihead great article with clear factual answers. If only the ex ac goc and the like actually did something like change the culture of baldonnell then they might hold some creditability. As for blue flu there is a judical review result that says safetly that differs

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by FMolloy View Post
                          Did you try posting it yourself?
                          I sure did. Don't have the rights to do so as a mere mortal.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            "Air Corps Not Asked To Tender For SAR Contract" - interesting phrasing. The question however, is did the AC ask to be allowed tender?
                            Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Its mentioned in the article, "The Department of Defence advices the Department (Transport) in June 2008 that the Air Corps were not an option and have since reconfirmed".
                              The Air corps might have wanted to tender and maybe did ask, but the people they answer to and make the decisions in the Dept of defence had other ideas by the looks of things.

                              Comment

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