SAR S-92 Missing Ireland
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 595
Likes: 58
From: UK
Really winds me up when we get the armchair experts on here criticising how things are done / assets are mobilised.
You really think you know better with the limited information you have?
People like this spouting off helps no one, including the friends and family of those involved, especially when the press quote these armchair experts as they have been known to do.
Wind your neck in
Nuff said.
Rip to the crew, true heroes to the end, very sad day indeed
You really think you know better with the limited information you have?
People like this spouting off helps no one, including the friends and family of those involved, especially when the press quote these armchair experts as they have been known to do.
Wind your neck in
Nuff said.
Rip to the crew, true heroes to the end, very sad day indeed
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Wales
'kin armchair experts........
If there had been a north-coast incident the same night then the closest SAR cover would have been Waterford...
Ex 22 & 202 Sqn's RAF
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 1
From: Among these dark Satanic mills
So the question still stands, why remove east-coast SAR cover instead of using Shannon for top-cover? I'm not criticising, I'm just perplexed. There is a spare 92 at Shannon, too, though presumably would need crew. If there had been a north-coast incident the same night then the closest SAR cover would have been Waterford... ( CHC / ICG also cover NI waters under an extension to the contract ).
Shannon aircraft already on other tasking
Shannon aircraft or crew u/s
Poor weather at Shannon meaning that the Dublin crew had an easier time getting to the scene
Ireland isn't a big country so getting Waterford up the east coast wouldn't cause excessive delay (notwithstanding the ability of British SAR assets to join in, as already mentioned). Let's face it, as soon as Humberside get a job or go u/s, there is nothing on the British east coast between Inverness and Lydd! This is not a dig at Bristow, merely a relevant comparison.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Cote d'Azur
Capt. Fitzpatrick: a delightful lady to meet, a talented leader, an inspiring and professional aviator to her fingertips, committed 100% to her vocation as a rescue pilot.
The many hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals whose lives were saved by her and her fellow crew-members over the years, will feel a special sorrow at this very sad loss.
Profound condolences to the families and friends of the Rescue 116 crew.
The many hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals whose lives were saved by her and her fellow crew-members over the years, will feel a special sorrow at this very sad loss.
Profound condolences to the families and friends of the Rescue 116 crew.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: Belfast
Irish Marine Survey ship "Celtic Voyager" is currently scanning the seabed they are using multi-beam echo sounders to search for the wreckage of the Coast Guard helicopter, if they locate the wreckage they will bring in the larger sister ship "Celtic Explorer" which has a large crane and a remote sub, the Naval ships "LE Eithne" and "LE Roisin" are scanning the area with their equipment, the search is being concentrated near Blackrock Lighthouse. Irish Air Corps Casa and AW139 Helicopter also involved.
Some info here
LATEST: I owe my life to Dara Fitzpatrick and her crew, says cardiac arrest survivor | Irish Examiner
Some info here
LATEST: I owe my life to Dara Fitzpatrick and her crew, says cardiac arrest survivor | Irish Examiner
Last edited by Thunderbirdsix; 15th March 2017 at 15:45.
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: N. Ireland
Last AIS & voice
Last AIS position recorded at 00:46 (N54.06736º, W10.3229º) is over Black Rock, an islet with light house & helipad, located 17km west of Blacksod helipad. The Irish Times newspaper reported that a last brief voice message declared "landing in Blacksod", but no attribution for the reception of the voice message.
Can any contributor confirm if the S-92A equipped with data/voice recorders incorporating an Underwater Locator Beacon?
RV Celtic Voyager is currently sailing parallel tracks to the west and north of Black Rock at a speed that's probably too fast for side scan sonar tows so it may be trying to detact a ULB transmission or us using its MBES for a bathymetry survey before launching a SSS towfish to locate wreckage on the seafloor. Unfortunately, it looks like the Marine Instiute/GSI 'INFORMAR' bathymetry data doesn't include data for this specific area around the Black Rock islet.
I'll suggest that search coordination is confident of an impact area within 2km west/north west of Black Rock, currently being surveyed by Celtic Voyager, while LE Eithe, LE Róisín, and the RNLI lifeboats search for drifted surface debris.
I hope responders will bring a positive resolution in the search for the three still missing crew members and, in time, their aircraft.
Can any contributor confirm if the S-92A equipped with data/voice recorders incorporating an Underwater Locator Beacon?
RV Celtic Voyager is currently sailing parallel tracks to the west and north of Black Rock at a speed that's probably too fast for side scan sonar tows so it may be trying to detact a ULB transmission or us using its MBES for a bathymetry survey before launching a SSS towfish to locate wreckage on the seafloor. Unfortunately, it looks like the Marine Instiute/GSI 'INFORMAR' bathymetry data doesn't include data for this specific area around the Black Rock islet.
I'll suggest that search coordination is confident of an impact area within 2km west/north west of Black Rock, currently being surveyed by Celtic Voyager, while LE Eithe, LE Róisín, and the RNLI lifeboats search for drifted surface debris.
I hope responders will bring a positive resolution in the search for the three still missing crew members and, in time, their aircraft.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Rescue 116 search update
The main wreckage of Rescue 116 including the black box flight recorders have been discovered close to Blackrock Island off the County Mayo coast.
The wreckage is scattered in water 60 metres from the island and close to 200ft cliffs
The location is 9 nm from the Blacksod Lighthouse refuelling depot that rescue 116 was destined for when all contact was lost early Tuesday morning.
The LÉ Eithne has been appointed the on-scene coordinator for the ongoing search and rescue operation for the three Coast Guard crew members still missing. Naval vessel and divers remain on the scene and the Irish Lights vessel Granuaille which has heavy lifting capabilities is en-route to the area.
The main wreckage of Rescue 116 including the black box flight recorders have been discovered close to Blackrock Island off the County Mayo coast.
The wreckage is scattered in water 60 metres from the island and close to 200ft cliffs
The location is 9 nm from the Blacksod Lighthouse refuelling depot that rescue 116 was destined for when all contact was lost early Tuesday morning.
The LÉ Eithne has been appointed the on-scene coordinator for the ongoing search and rescue operation for the three Coast Guard crew members still missing. Naval vessel and divers remain on the scene and the Irish Lights vessel Granuaille which has heavy lifting capabilities is en-route to the area.
Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 931
From: Den Haag
Is that a serious question? What might be floating and moving with tides and wind and would be desirable to find? Here's a clue - there are three of them!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 768
Likes: 45
From: Montreal
Condolences to the deceased. Tragic that a relatively straightforward cross-country run to a station refuel would end like this.
Always looking at the benefit and alignment of modern technology for rescue purposes. As far as I know, most helicopters these days are satellite tracked, typically pinging every 2 minutes with an accuracy of 60'. With the benefit of AIS near shorelines of developed countries the frequency is more like 2-10 seconds and an accuracy of 6'. Some media have commented on lack of a rescue signal, PLB's require activation and the circumstances may not have lent themselves to that. CPI should be automatic but predictably it once again failed. For their burden of cost, installation and weight, I'd be more heartened to hear of a single ditching where they actually worked as advertised.
CVR/FDR have a sonic pinger that will transmit for about 30 days underwater. Hope the proximity to Blackrock is only a coincidence.
Always looking at the benefit and alignment of modern technology for rescue purposes. As far as I know, most helicopters these days are satellite tracked, typically pinging every 2 minutes with an accuracy of 60'. With the benefit of AIS near shorelines of developed countries the frequency is more like 2-10 seconds and an accuracy of 6'. Some media have commented on lack of a rescue signal, PLB's require activation and the circumstances may not have lent themselves to that. CPI should be automatic but predictably it once again failed. For their burden of cost, installation and weight, I'd be more heartened to hear of a single ditching where they actually worked as advertised.
CVR/FDR have a sonic pinger that will transmit for about 30 days underwater. Hope the proximity to Blackrock is only a coincidence.
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: South West Scotland
Yes it was, I'm well aware of floating debris but on AIS they seem to be concentrating in an area away from the main wreckage. And I'm aware there are three missing!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: USA
There might be a tragic story building here.
The pinger as reported in the press is just off Blackrock Light (BBC News).
The traces of AIS flight path as shown on line show a circle of Blackrock.
The Last AIS position recorded at 00:46 was N54.06736º, W10.3229º, which is just next to Blackrock, in the surf.
The wreckage as reported by fisbangwollop, has been found is just off the island (60 meters). This is unconfirmed by any news source.
Blackrock is located atop a 300 foot cliff, Blacksod is just about at sea level.
The pinger as reported in the press is just off Blackrock Light (BBC News).
The traces of AIS flight path as shown on line show a circle of Blackrock.
The Last AIS position recorded at 00:46 was N54.06736º, W10.3229º, which is just next to Blackrock, in the surf.
The wreckage as reported by fisbangwollop, has been found is just off the island (60 meters). This is unconfirmed by any news source.
Blackrock is located atop a 300 foot cliff, Blacksod is just about at sea level.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 151
Likes: 29
From: Cyberspace
There might be a tragic story building here.
Let's keep the surmises from the circumstantial evidence to ourselves for now, even if ultimately our own hypotheses are proved correct. There is nothing to immediately gain in a wider safety context if its not attributable to an S92 design/manufacturing flaw which the recorders will help verify for the investigators.