The Air Corps is to relocate the north-west Dauphin rescue helicopter to a new base at Sligo Airport on a temporary basis, subject to approval of crash rescue facilities by its flight safety officer.
The move from its permanent base in Finner, Co Donegal, is expected to take place immediately. The Army had favoured relocation to Carrickfin in Co Donegal - against the wishes of the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen Patrick Cranfield, and most of his pilots, who favoured Sligo.
The temporary relocation was requested by the Air Corps as a safety measure, following confirmation of a further delay in delivery of a crash rescue tender for Finner.
A report to the GOC Air Corps dating back as far as 1995 had identified the lack of such facilities, but it only became a real issue following the loss of four airmen in the Dauphin helicopter crash at Tramore, Co Waterford, in July of last year.
The Finner air and sea rescue helicopter has been responding to operations only for some months, as a precautionary measure. Last month, 24-hour cover was suspended for one night due to technical difficulties with the aircraft.
The report into the Tramore crash by the Air Accident Investigation Unit has recommended that the GOC Air Corps should review the shortcomings of the Dauphin in the north-west of the country.
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