Irish Coast Guard launches new S92 search & rescue helicopter for Dublin region

The Irish Coast Guard has unveiled a new S92 search and rescue helicopter for the Dublin region in Weston Airport, marking the operations of the fourth Sikorsky S92 helicopter base.

The latest helicopter represents the completion of upgrade of all the Coast Guard bases in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford.

As part of the overhaul, the Sikorsky S61, which was in use until recently, has been replaced with the new S92 helicopters at the bases.

The new Sikorsky helicopters, which are designed to provide a first class medical service in emergencies and for medical transfers, can travel at up to 275km/h and carry up to 22 casualties at maximum range with twin engines each delivering 2,500SHP.

The S92 can now handle inter-hospital and donor organ recipient transfers, transport specialist medical teams as well as accommodate stretchers, hospital trolleys, incubators, equipment and personnel.

They can also transfer specialised ambulance response and mountain rescue teams to an incident anywhere in the country at faster on-scene times.

The new helicopters will have a range of 270 miles can fly at 10ft in conditions of minus 40 degrees Celsius in adverse weather conditions where rotor icing is an issue.

The helicopters are equipped with modern reliable engines, three programme linked navigational software, searchlight capability of 30 million candle power, dual high speed winches, high resolution picture zoom, and memory mapping.

They also feature adjacent aircraft detection capability, hi-tech communication systems, large multi role cabin, HEMS licenced, eight passenger seats, reliable single engine performance, enhanced hover performance and in-flight homing equipment.

Image: The Coast Guard and Minister Varadkar launching the new Coast Guard helicopter. Photo: courtesy of Leo Varadkar.