An Cosantóir

air corps ops 2011 | 17 Operation 'Bealtaine', a comprehensive air surveillance, inter- diction and defence operation, was developed, integrating all Defence Forces assets to cover the visits to Dublin, Kildare and Cork. This operation required detailed planning and liaison with the Irish Aviation Authority, An Garda Síochána and civil Air Traf- fic Control, as well as developing complicated communications network, airspace management and rules of engagement for the combat air patrols. Casement Aerodrome became a nucleus for the security op- eration and in preparation for the Queen's only visit to a Defence Forces barracks a company was deployed to secure the airfield, in addition to the aerial operation. An ISTAR company from 1 S Bde and an infantry company from 4 W Bde also assisted inside and outside the boundaries of the aerodrome. Following months of preparation, the RAF BAE146 aircraft carrying Queen Elizabeth II touched down at Baldonnel, and Brig Gen Paul Fry had the pleasure of welcoming the Queen to Ireland for the first time. Over the next ten days the whole Air Corps fleet was commit- the first Air Corps involvement in a NEO (non-combatant evacuation operation). During this international deployment the rest of the fleet were carrying on with routine operations back in Casement Aero- drome. An air ambulance mission to London was completed by No 3 Operations Wing; ballot boxes for the 2011 general election were transported to Tory and Innishbofin islands; and maritime patrols, Garda air support and cash escort top-cover were also provided; all during the time of the Libyan operation. At the beginning of May 2011 the Air Corps was called upon again, this time to assist fire-fighting services in the north- west who were struggling to contain gorse and forest fires that were sweeping through thousands of acres in Donegal, Mayo and Galway. The Air Corps deployed its Agusta Westland 139s, equipped with specialised under-slung 'Bambi buckets', capable of dropping 1,200 litres of water in seconds, to the region to help with the fire-fighting operation. 'AW 279' and 'AW 278' operated extensively in the Done- gal region, with crews operating from first light until last light and dropping over 500,000 litres of water over the four-day operation. The Air Corps' Eurocopter EC 135 'Echo 271' was also deployed and transported a Defence Forces' fire-fighting specialist to the area who operated as the on-scene commander for the co-ordi- nated operation with the County Fire Officer. The helicopters operated out of Carrickfin Airport, Donegal, and flew close to 100 hours over the four days, proving a vital asset in the Air Corps' first major fire-fighting support role. While the helicopters battled the gorse fires in the north-west, back in Casement Aerodrome plans were being drawn up for the upcoming official visit of HRM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Ireland. The Air Corps were tasked with estab- lishing the Joint Air Defence Task Force in Casement Aerodrome, and with deploying assets to provide airspace protection during this historic visit. ted to Operation 'Bealtaine', with over 250 flight hours complet- ed. The Pilatus PC 9s provided combat air patrols and ceremonial flights; the CASA took on the role of an airborne command-and- control platform, as well as providing military transport for the operation; helicopters provided army support, VIP and military transport, and an air ambulance capability; the Cessnas con- ducted visual air patrols; and the Gulfstream IV and Learjet were on standby for VIP transport. The success of the co-ordinated effort of the Joint Air Defence Task Force meant that only one aircraft had to be intercepted in the Temporary Restricted Area and shepherded out of the zone by a Pilatus PC 9. As the Queen departed Ireland attention quickly changed fo- cus to the pending visit of President Obama. Again the Air Corps provided co-ordinated airspace protection during the visit, which was unfortunately cut short due to fears that Air Force One could be grounded by a new volcanic ash cloud blowing down from Iceland. During all these operations the Air Corps continued with its daily taskings, including 71 air ambulance missions in 2011 (now with an increased capability to transport patients in our helicop- ters at night with the use of night vision goggles) around Europe with specialist Life Port stretcher systems and even a transatlan- tic mission with the Gulfstream IV. Almost 300 maritime patrols were completed; top-cover provided to nearly 300 cash escorts; and 11 calls for search-and- rescue top-cover from the Irish Coast Guard were answered. From the one aircraft on standby ninety-one years ago the Air Corps now have dedicated fixed- and rotary-wing crews on standby to answer calls for air ambulances and to facilitate round-the-clock Garda air support and the myriad of other task- ings that it receives throughout the year. Since its formation the Irish Air Corps has striven, and still strives, to provide the best service it can to the people of Ireland and to be true to its motto, 'Forfaire agus Tairiseacht' (Vigilance and Loyalty). www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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