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The history of No.3 Operations Wing is strongly rooted
in support and collaboration. Since 1963, in addition to
our daily support of Units within the Defence Forces,
we have regularly supported external agencies like
Mountain Rescue Ireland, the RNLI, the ESB, IRCG,
THE EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICE: IRELAND'S FIRST HEMS
The cockpit of the AW139 aircraft as utilised on EAS.
Air Corps 112 landing beside and awaiting HSE ambulance
1
the Fire Service, Mine Rescue Ireland, GSOC, the AAIU,
an Taisce, NPWS, Coillte and many more. If there is
an agency that requires a hovering aircraft, chances
are No.3 have supported them in the last 59 years. In
the Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) role we have been
supporting An Garda Síochána for many years. This
took a large leap forward in 1997 when we support
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ed the establishment of the Garda Air Support Unit
(GASU), the first dedicated airborne law enforcement
Unit in the state. Unlike previous support roles this
meant working very closely with an external agency
in a high consequence and, at times, risky role on a
daily (and nightly!) basis. This was not without its
challenges, with two distinct cultures combining to
achieve mission success, but it led to a fruitful rela
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tionship now spanning 25 years. The lessons learned
from this successful Squadron were welcome in 2011,
when our ability to collaborate with an external agency
was tested once again with the Unit being tasked with
a mission to assist the National Ambulance Service
(NAS) in introducing Irelands first dedicated Emergen
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cy Aeromedical Service (EAS).
By Lt Col Phil Bonner,
Air Corps Flight Safety Officer
THE EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL
SERVICE: IRELAND'S FIRST HEMS
