An Cosantóir

59 NO. 3 OPERATIONS WING In 1981 the Defence Forces leased a single AS330 Puma helicopter. The Puma was invaluable during 'Operation Snowman', the largest air relief operation the State has seen to date. Despite this, the lease for this aircraft was discontinued in 1982. 1986 saw the introduction to service of the AS365Fi Dauphin II helicopter and Unit 'Wing' status. The Dauphins were at the time one of the very first aircraft in the country to be equipped with a 'glass' cockpits, underscoring the IAC flexibility in taking on new tech- nologies and capabilities. The step change in capabil- ity that the Dauphins brought, meant that the IAC was now operating off the West Coast of Ireland in one of the harshest operating environments. Unit helicopter SAR detachments operating from, inter alia, Shannon Airport, Baldonnel, Finner Camp and Waterford Airport, were involved in some extraordinary missions over the years, many receiving national or international recogni- tion. The Dauphin was pushed to its limits, which was recognised by several reports calling for larger more capable helicopters. The advancements made by Dau- phin crews should not be underestimated, and many of the procedures they developed and honed are still used by EC135 and AW139 crews to this day. All the while, Alouette III daytime SAR detachments continued from Dublin and Waterford with the last Alouette III SAR detachment not occurring until the 2000s. A Sikorsky S61 was leased on the completion of Dauphin II SAR operations and was based from Sligo airport, adding another chapter in the Unit aircraft and capability histo- ry. In a new departure, 'detachments' ceased, and crews moved their families up to the Sligo area. The S61 lease was terminated following a decision to fully privatise the provision of helicopter SAR, which was at the time a hybrid of military and commercial providers. A decision on future helicopter SAR provision is to be made in the coming period; however, with Super Medium helicop- ters now being planned for and future Irish Navy 'Multi Role Vessels' being enabled for helicopter operations, the IAC will have advanced helicopters capable of hoist operations on a 24/7 basis long into the future. In 1997, No 3 Ops Wing was tasked with supporting the newly formed Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) and continues to provide pilots, technicians and an oper- ating base for An Garda Síochána. While GASU fixed wing Defender operations fall within the Unit, they are supported and staffed from No 1 Ops Wing personnel and resources. Gardaí who work in GASU are all quali- fied as helicopter Aircrew and over the past 25 years a fantastic working relationship has evolved with Flight Safety and Crew Resource Management at its core. The twin-engine Garda AS 355N Squirrel meant enhanced safety and city night hovering became a new skill for Unit Pilots to hone. Unit Pilots with previous Dauphin experience were used as the initial Squirrel Pilots, as they were familiar with twin engine night-time opera- tions. Such was its success that it was augmented by the first GASU EC135T2. In 2007, the Squirrel was replaced with a second EC135T2 helicopter, which also came equipped with a Night Vision Goggle (NVG) com- patible cockpit. This significantly enhanced its scope of night operational capability and saw 304 Sqn (GASU) conduct the State's first NVG SAR for a missing person. In 2005, two EC135P2 helicopters were procured. This glass cockpit aircraft is an excellent training and light utility platform. The commonality of type has proved beneficial, as Pilots now have EC135 experience before transferring to 304 Sqn (GASU). The advent of Night Vision operations over the past decades has seen the Unit evolve into additional roles and military speciali- ties, which it had not yet developed. NVG have enabled higher safety margins in the night environment as well as the ability to conduct night formation flights, working in confined areas in the mountains as well as covert operations. The addition of NVG in the offshore environment has enhanced safety margins and allowed greater operational flexibility including hoist and fast rope operations at night. In 2006, 301 Squadron took delivery of the first two Au- gusta Westland 139s (AW139). Now, for the first time, we had an all green, militarily capable fleet. This former SAR Squadron now had a military role to be developed with many of the SAR skills being repurposed to new complex tasks, particularly fast roping, abseiling and aerial gunnery. To perform the various military roles assigned to the aircraft, each helicopter can be re-fitted to various role fits in a matter of minutes. Four Special Forces fast rope beams are permanently fitted which allow up to eight ARW troops to fast rope or abseil from the helicopter by day and night. During these missions the aircraft is fitted with two mounted M58 GPMG 7.62mm machine guns, which fire through dedicated gunner's windows forward of the main cabin doors. ARW snipers also provide precision firepower from the aircraft using long-range 12.7mm (0.5 inch) sniper The Dauphin displays its maritime capability. The EC135 interacting with forces on the ground in a medevac role.

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