THE IRISH Government is about to decide whether to approve a plan for the national police force to purchase and operate its own helicopter force.
Garda Siochana wants to buy two machines in a deal, which would bring the country into line with the global trend towards the use of dedicated police helicopters.
The Irish Air Corps, which flies all Ireland's military and para-military helicopters, wants to operate the aircraft on behalf of the police, but the Garda insists that the Air Corps is not capable of providing the highly specialised service required in police operations. Justice minister Nora Owen will decide.
A new undertaking by the Government to provide 24h search-and-rescue cover on the Irish east coast, using the Air Corps, will, believes the Garda, stretch the service's capability even further.
The Garda has drawn up a draft request for proposals, and sources familiar with it say that it is aimed at the purchase of single-turbine machines such as the Bell 407, the Eurocopter AS.350 Ecureuil and the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD600N.
Source: Flight International
