An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | The SAROs have developed a great corporate knowledge of what constitutes a normal pattern of shipping movements and can read- ily identify anomalies. Leading the way is the chief SARO instructor, Flt Sgt Gerry Mooney, who has 22 years and 7,000 flying hours on the CASA. Using the infrared and the video and spotter scope cameras in turn, the SARO guided the pilot onto an into-wind approach on a logical search pattern around the patrol area. As we closed with each target, we dropped smoothly to between 300ft and 400ft, though the CASAs can go down as low as 250ft if necessary. At about 30 seconds to run, the captain gives permission to the photographer to open the port or starboard blister and calls when overhead. An identification cross-check is then made by the co- pilot (who, in addition to the SARO, records target-specific infor- mation) and the photographer, while the tactical-console SARO updates the database. This process was repeated until all targets within the area had been logged and then we climbed to transit to the next set of radar reflections. The CASAs' radar is powerful enough to pick up shoals of tuna, dolphins and other cetaceans and members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group have occasionally accompanied patrols to carry out monitoring exercises. Other items that the aircraft's radar have detected include a fridge-freezer floating 400 miles off the coast of Donegal, and several shipping containers of bananas, which subsequently had to be sunk by the NS as they were a hazard to shipping. One container had burst open, covering a large area with floating fruit! The conditions for our patrol were ideal: light winds, a calm sea and good visibility. On rough days it can become quite turbulent at 250ft and a lot of skill and concentration is needed and there are few other flying jobs that require so much 'seat of the pants' work. In poor weather (the minima are a cloud base of 1,000 feet and visibility of one-and-a-half miles) the workload on the whole crew is pretty high. The maritime crews come from a fairly small pool and, typically, pilots and SAROs fly two or three missions a week. There are nine pilots qualified as P1s (seven of whom are double-hatted, with other jobs at Baldonnel), 15 P2s (two of whom are full-time) and ten SAROS. The role of SARO is open to all members of the Defence Forces after successful completion of aptitude tests and a nine-month training course, followed by three months probationary service. Having accumulated about 250 flying hours and after passing a rating flight, they would then be fully fledged SAROs. The photographers and signallers come from flight-qualified pools within their own specific sub-units. This has resulted in a close-knit formation, which is evident in the highly professional but relaxed attitude on board; while transiting from one area to another, some of the banter was very funny but the switch of focus to the task in hand was immediate. It was obvious that they enjoyed each other's company and respected the particular skill that each crew member brought to the task. There is no doubt that the CASA 235's FITS has provided the Air Corps with an excellent surveillance system for fisheries protection duties and the monitoring of other surface activ- ity. The CASAs' role has been subtly changing in recent years, reflected in the change of 101 Squadron's title to 'Surveillance and Airlift.' Given the current threat to Europe from interna- tional terrorism and organised crime, a significantly greater emphasis on maritime security and defence has been added to the fishery protection role. Dissemination of information and greater interaction with interested national and inter- national agencies has assumed ever-greater importance. The top-cover provided to the Irish Coastguard's Sikorsky S-92s on/off-shore rescue missions has been enhanced, with the ability now to gather and download vital medical information on casualties from the scene of an incident to the receiving hospital. With the withdrawal of the RAF's Nimrod MR2s from service in 2010, the CASAs have been the only dedicated military maritime patrol assets in Ireland or the UK. The White Paper on Defence 2015 stated that the CASAs would be due for replacement in 2019, with consideration being given to larger, more capable aircraft to enhance the existing maritime surveillance capability and provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks. It is unlikely that the Air Corps would purchase a large jet or four-engine turboprop type, and in this author's view the logical step would be to acquire two or three Airbus C 295 MPAs (the variant operated by the Portuguese Air Force), which are larger (but not too large), faster, longer-ranged and with enhanced mission and cockpit systems. Other contend- ers would include the Alenia C-27J Spartan and the Bombar- dier Dash 8 MPA. With the considerable expertise and skill of the crews gathered over the last 20 years, maritime patrol operations around Ireland are in good hands and can only increase in importance in the years ahead. Grateful thanks from the author are due to GOC Air Corps, Brig Gen Paul Fry, Comdt Patrick Ridge (OC 101 Squadron), Comdt Ger- ry Fitzpatrick, Capt Seán McCarthy, and the crew of 'Charlie 253', Comdts Kenny Byrne and Will Cummins, Flt Sgt Gerry Mooney, and Cpls Jeff Healy, Colum Lawlor and Thomas Magee. IAC DH Dove 194 at Baldonnel. Photo: Col Tom Moloney

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