Minister of State Sean Canney T.D., with special responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard, will today officially launch the Irish Coast Guard’s enhanced aviation service at Waterford Airport.

This event follows Government approving a Memorandum noting the successful completion of the transition to the new Bristow Ireland-operated service, which provides a modern, resilient and expanded aviation fleet for Ireland’s emergency response needs.

The aviation service delivers 24/7 helicopter operations using six AW189 helicopters across four bases – Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Weston Airport, Dublin.

The contract also includes a 24/7 dedicated fixed-wing service, provided by two Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft based in Shannon.

This will work as an integrated service to enhance the Coast Guard’s capacity to deliver maritime and inland Search and Rescue, environmental monitoring, aeromedical support to the offshore islands as well as other aviation support to other State entities, including the National Ambulance Service and inland Search And Rescue support to An Garda Síochána.

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