An Cosantóir

10 100TH ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE TO THE IRISH AIR CORPS On the 23rd March 2022, the centenary of the Irish Air Corps, RACO was delighted to celebrate the graduation of the 26th and 27th Young Officers Wings Courses and the qualification of the Air Corps' newest pilots. These young officers are the latest in a line of dedicated men and women who served the state through the Air Corps since its establishment one hundred years ago, and RACO is proud to count them among our membership. Of course, it is not just the pilots who make the Air Corps what it is today. It has always been served by officers and enlisted personnel who specialise in Air Traffic Control, Ordnance, Communications, Engineering, Logistics, Transport, and Training to name just a few. Tireless efforts behind the scenes keep the aerodrome, aircraft and personnel in top-class condition and facilitate the great variety of capabilities that the Air Corps provides to the Defence Forces and to the Irish public in general. The Aid to Civil Power/Authority roles performed by the Air Corps contribute in a hugely significant way to the security and resilience of the State. An Garda Síochána's air operations are facilitated entirely by aircraft maintained and operated by Air Corps personnel. The Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) and Air Ambulance Service provided Comdt Conor King, RACO General Secretary by the Air Corps through its rotary and fixed wing capabilities have been providing essential medical care and transport to the Irish public for many years and have helped to save countless lives. Our proven track record in Search and Rescue is self- evident, and may be called on again by the State in the near future. The capabilities provided by the Air Corps to the Army and Naval Service have been outstanding also. The crews and technicians of the CASA fleet cooperate daily with the Naval Service in delivering Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO) to protect and regulate Irelands vast economic interest at sea. They also conduct regular essential resupply mission to our Defence Forces personnel deployed on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East. The replacement of these CASA aircraft with two brand new C295 aircraft in 2023 will enhance this capability even further. Direct support to the Army in terms of communications and reconnaissance is a role in which the Air Corps has significant experience, particularly in the border regions during the troubles. As this task evolves, so has the Air Corps response and the recent addition of the Pilatus PC12 to the fleet is testimony to this. The recent report by the Commission on the Defence Forces made many recommendations aimed at addressing the deficits in people and resources that the entire Force is experiencing, deficits felt as acutely in Baldonnell as anywhere in the organisation. The Commission has identified some exciting initiatives specific to the Air Corps, in terms of strategic reach, primary radar and aircraft upgrades, not to mention additional personnel establishments in critical areas. RACO eagerly awaits publication of the plan and resources to implement them. As we celebrate its past century, RACO will continue to look to the future of the Air Corps and advocate for the wellbeing of our members who provide its leadership and deliver its capabilities. Forfaire agus Tairiseacht.

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