AgustaWestland AW139

[DeV]

So the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme in the U.K. which is to replace the following with a single type:
23 x Puma
3 x Bell 212
6 x Dauphin
and I think another as well

with up to 44, then 35…. And now who knows as they have announced that they are buying 6 x H145 to replace the Bell 212s

https://x.com/flightglobal/status/1722980531992777171?s=46&t=AkgweFTsD599sqgWidCthw

contenders are still:
AW149
S-70M
H175

[Rocinante]

The replacement of the Irish Air Corps’ helicopter fleet will take place in 2028.

*From the Journal today.

Was the specific year mentioned before?

[Rhodes]

*From the Journal today.

Was the specific year mentioned before?

The commission report said that the EC135 and AW139 helicopters are due to be replaced before 2030 and that the AW139s should be replaced with eight super‐medium helicopters.

[Sparky42]

*From the Journal today.

Was the specific year mentioned before?

Whats our average timeframe for buying new helicopters? 5 years seems "unlikely".

[ODIN]

Whats our average timeframe for buying new helicopters? 5 years seems "unlikely".

Including or excluding the legal challenges when a tender is awarded?

[na grohmiti]

Do it like the Government jet tender.
"here's our budget, we need 8 military helicopters seating 10 fully equipped soldiers and their equipment with a range of x with rough field landing ability"

[ODIN]

Do it like the Government jet tender.
"here's our budget, we need 8 military helicopters seating 10 fully equipped soldiers and their equipment with a range of x with rough field landing ability"

Sad thing is 8 probably leaves up short 8 for what we actually need to cover the island, and meet the needs of the DF as a whole.

[Turkey]

Sad thing is 8 probably leaves up short 8 for what we actually need to cover the island, and meet the needs of the DF as a whole.

Even worse when several are shaved off for non military duties.
and what is going to happen with the light helicopters?

[ODIN]

Even worse when several are shaved off for non military duties.
and what is going to happen with the light helicopters?

I have gotten a strange sense of De ja vu lately. There's a stench of the PwC report's of the 1990's around. The sentiment of this article from 23 years ago are as true today as they were then, https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/d...vista-1.243129.

In my mind, we should probably have 16 Medium lift (or super-medium, which I assume is code for AW-149's), and 4-6 light role Heli's. Let the HSE purchase and fund their own airframes, can be of the same type and flown by the Aer Corps, but let them invest.

[Banner]

Great article thanks for sharing as u say- wouldn’t fill you with confidence about the current plans

[na grohmiti]

Plan says the whole fleet to be reviewed later in the period. By then the 2 additional helis will be delivered and time to decide to move.to LOA3

[Jaque'ammer]

I have gotten a strange sense of De ja vu lately. There's a stench of the PwC report's of the 1990's around. The sentiment of this article from 23 years ago are as true today as they were then, https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/d...vista-1.243129.

In my mind, we should probably have 16 Medium lift (or super-medium, which I assume is code for AW-149's), and 4-6 light role Heli's. Let the HSE purchase and fund their own airframes, can be of the same type and flown by the Aer Corps, but let them invest.

The HSE *is* leasing its own craft

[Turkey]

The HSE *is* leasing its own craft

it is now, finally, something that should have been done over 20 years ago.

[na grohmiti]

The HSE *is* leasing its own craft

But not to replace the AW139, that lease is for the other service covering the south of the country. The AW139 wll remain in the air ambulance role working out of Athlone for the forseeable.

[Jetjock]

There is a helicopter fleet expansion project planned just slightly before the fleet is due to be replaced. Presumably the extra two AW139 that have been rumoured.

Would make you doubt the credibility of the entire document. It lacks specifics everywhere.