Flying sergeants would ease Air Corps pilot shortage group

The shortage of Air Corps pilots for extended marine search and rescue could be met by non-commissioned officers, according to the representative association PDFORRA.

However, this would require a "culture change" within the defence wing, according to the association. Some 14 pilots could be supplied within the next year from the enlisted ranks to match the extra demands, it maintains.

Seven of these are qualified pilots, while seven more are in training on their own initiative; but because they are not from the officer corps they are not permitted to fly.

PDFORRA says that there is a precedent for this proposal. In 1943 the government of the day used sergeant pilots, according to Flight Sgt Irvine Ferris of the association.

Nine Air Corps pilots will leave this year for more lucrative jobs elsewhere and another seven could go next year, at a time when there is increased pressure on the defence wing to meet the needs of an expanded air/sea rescue network, fisheries protection and the new Garda aircraft.

As part of the strategy to improve air/sea rescue, the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, confirmed last week that an Air Corps Dauphin would be relocated to Waterford airport to serve the south and south-east coasts.

The southern service will be available from July 1st next - the date also for the initiation of the new medium-load helicopter for the east coast, based at Dublin. The east coast Sikorsky will be provided on contract to the Government by the Scottish company, Bond Helicopters, which also runs the west coast service at Shannon.

However, a commitment made by the last government to employ only Air Corps crews for the east coast cannot be met fully due to staffing shortages. As a result, the defence wing will provide only five of the seven pilots and seven of the eight winch crew sought by the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) for the east coast Sikorsky. This may also affect long-term plans to purchase or lease medium-range search and rescue craft for the Air Corps.

The improvements in marine rescue were initiated by the former marine and defence minister, Mr Sean Barrett, following the loss of seven commercial fishermen off Donegal and Howth in November 1995. The lack of night-time helicopter cover on the east coast was highlighted when Mr Timmy Currid, a Wexford fisherman, lost his life off Howth.

The decision to relocate an Air Corps Dauphin to Waterford has been welcomed by his widow, Mrs Carmel Currid, who has submitted a detailed proposal to the Department of the Marine in relation to the response to losses at sea.

PDFORRA's proposal has been submitted to the Price Water house review of the Naval Service and Air Corps, which is due to be completed this month. Sgt Ferris, who took a postgraduate degree on organisational development and management of change in the Air Corps, says the use of sergeant pilots may not be the ideal solution, but would solve a problem in the short term. It would avoid imposing an embargo on departure of officers, as occurred during the 1980s, and would improve morale among enlisted personnel, he says.

Implementing a pro-active career structure for non-commissioned officer pilots would represent major cost savings for the Air Corps, the State and, ultimately, the taxpayer, he says. NCO pilots could be deployed to fulfil part of the Air Corps primary role, and could serve as a support to the Army and to the civil power. Serious consideration should also be given to establishing a private flying club for interested defence force personnel who wish to take private pilots' licence training, he says.

The Department of Defence said the proposal would be considered in the context of the overall review by Price Waterhouse, which is to be presented to the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, shortly.