An Cosantóir

54 Notable Missions have included: Overseas Missions Assistance: • In July 2020 & January 2021, 104 Squadron trans- ported officers and cargo to the UN MINURSO mission in Laayoune, a city in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. • In February, March, May & Sept 2021 the squadron provided assistance to the MINUSMA mission by delivering equipment to Hannover for onward trans- port by the German Air Force to Mali. • In May & August 2020 and January & August 2021, there was a resupply for the KFOR mission in Koso- vo. • In March & April 2021 and February 2022, there were UNIFIL & UNDOF resupply missions. Air Ambulance role: • There have been over 22 missions per- formed to date in sup- port of the HSE to the UK and Europe. Many of these missions can be ad hoc in nature. 280 uses the spec- trum system while 281/282/283 uses the Life port system. Ministerial Air Transport role: • As a contingency to the Lear jet and CASA CN235, the PC12 has been utilised as a back up to provide this service so far on 5 occasions since entry into service. Covid Test Sample transport: • Due to COVID testing capacity being exceeded in Irish laboratories, 104 Squadron, in association with the Joint Task Force and Eurofins Biomnis was tasked with transporting samples to both Munich and Birmingham for testing, to ensure a quick turnaround of results. Each flight contained up to 3 boxes of test specimens weighing a total of 360kg. To date, 104 Squadron has completed over 50 of these Covid sample transport missions. Addition- ally, both the CASA CN235 and Learjet have been used to transport samples also. PC 12 parked up beside a NHS ambulance in the UK. Delivery of Covid 19 Test samples to Munich in the summer time. Air Corps Support: • Personnel rotation for AW139 & EC135 simula- tor training in Helsinki and Donauworth Germany during the pandemic. • Flying training school support with flight and tech- nical crew to Bouchs in Switzerland. Technical expertise has been constantly building within 103 Squadron as engineering personnel continue to integrate with the PC-12 power plant and avionics systems. So far, personnel qualified on type consist of 2 Senior Aircraft Inspectors, 5 Airframe inspectors and 3 Crew Leaders. This year, 103 Squadron will be sending 6 personnel on an airframe course while 6 personnel will undergo a Pratt and Whitney PT6 engine course this year with 3 personnel already qualified. In relation to maintenance intervals, every 12 months the PC12 is required to undergo major maintenance. Inspections consist of 300hr/12month, 600hr/12month, 1200hr/12month. Along with these inspections there are also hourly inspections of 300hrs and 600hrs. The aircraft are approximately flying 500 hrs per year each. The ISR Platform On-Board the PC-12 "Spectre" pro- vides exceptional capability in support of military units such as the ARW and regular forces as well as provid- ing support in our ATCP and ATCA roles, to include wild- fire firefighting and SAR. Sitaware C2 Command and Control software is fitted on board the Spectre aircraft. The software can draw on data from the multi-mis- sion sensors that are fitted to these aircraft, as well as information from external sources. The fitting of this particular mission system suite enhances its capability in the ISR role. In conclusion, experience on type in both the technical and flying field will continue to develop. It is hoped that these aircraft will deploy overseas to support UN personnel in a command and control aerial platform. The technology on board and reliable service delivered to date, will ensure that 104 Squadron will continue to successfully achieve mission success for the Irish Air Corps into the future. X-ray 283 in flight. 104 SQUADRON - OPERATION TRANSFORMATION

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