Sir, - The suitability of the Dauphin Helicopter for 24-hour search and rescue off the Irish coast is being considered at present as part of the Government's review of the Air Corps. I served in the Air Corps for 22 years, retiring in 1998 as Officer Commanding SAR Squadron and offer the following comments.
The Dauphin, purchased by the Air Corps in 1986, was the best SAR helicopter in its class at that time, for the money available. It would have been the Air Corp's choice to purchase a larger, medium-lift aircraft, but financial sanction was not forthcoming. Unfortunately, the difference in cost related directly to the difference in performance and the smaller aircraft was always going to provide an inferior service.
A larger aircraft can travel further, cover a larger operational area, stay airborne for longer, lift more people, and have more options for diverting to alternative destinations in poor weather. Its extra power allows it to maintain a stable hover in calm conditions, when there is no wind to assist lift, and also in storm-force conditions, when its size and weight increase that stability.
The Dauphin's size limits the number of survivors it can lift and its lower fuel endurance reduces its operation radius significantly. Its poor power-to-weight ratio means that in calm conditions, valuable fuel must be jettisoned to lighten the aircraft to allow it to hover. In high-sea states, the lighter aircraft is unstable and power fluctuations necessitate the disconnection of the auto-hover system. This is there to assist the pilot at night when there are limited visual cues available. Without it, the level of difficulty and risk is increased and in some cases the mission may have to be abandoned.
All of these limitations reduce the operational capability of the Dauphin and increase the possibility of the crew being unable to respond in the type of weather conditions in which vessels are likely to get into difficulty. When the crew do respond, these limitations increase the risk factor and make the job more difficult. The bottom line is that the areas covered by the Dauphin do not receive as effective a service as those areas covered by medium-lift helicopters.
There is also a duty owed to the crews to provide them with an aircraft capable of safely completing the missions they are tasked with. Up until now, they have in good faith continued to operate the Dauphin, despite its limitations, in anticipation of its replacement.
It is time their service, dedication, and patience were rewarded. - Yours, etc.,
Donal Scanlan, Julianstown, Co Meath.