thanks for all the feedback guys, It was always my opinion when serving that the CHC guys always appreciated a CASA overhead when out on a long range job, simple things like an updated ship position, advanced notice to the vessel to stear a certain bearing and all other support functions always went down well with the operating SAR crew. The situation in the Irish Air Corps at present is it's been reduced to a 0800-1800 service due to serious retirements over the last year of ATC personnel and experienced aircrew, No retention policy in place from DOD to stem the flow of retirements with the resultant inability to respond to SAR requests. Shocking state of affairs really. I guess nobody will be held accountable and the usual Spin fed out is that CHC provide their own heli top cover- that might be fine on a summers evening but not mid winter in a gale with low cloud base and icing.
Desk jockeys running down the service seems a trend that's affecting many military forces
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