The Irish defence ministry has eliminated the PZL-Okecie TC-11 Orlik as it downselects trainer types in preparation for an eight aircraft order by year-end. The Embraer Super Tucano, Pilatus PC-9M and Raytheon T-6A remain in the running for the order. The ministry says it hopes to make a final choice in early December, followed by a down payment before year-end. The aircraft will be introduced over an 18-month to two-year period from order placement. The defence ministry says the Orlik was eliminated as it "did not meet the tender specification". Meanwhile, the Irish government is rethinking its search and rescue medium-lift helicopter requirement, for which it is evaluating a lease deal and a public/private partnership arrangement. After the collapse of an order for three Sikorsky S-92s in July under legal pressure from Eurocopter, its EC725 and AgustaWestland EH101 are being considered.
Source: Flight International
