The aim of this document is to give guidance to any Coast Guard person or helipad attendants on safety aspects and procedures while operating with Irish Coast Guard helicopters.
The Irish Coast Guard currently operates 4 Sikorsky S92A helicopters on contract from C.H.C. Ireland Ltd. There are aircraft based at Sligo, Shannon, Dublin and Waterford airports. These aircraft are on occasion, required to be refuelled at helipad fuel installations, for extended range operations off the West Coast of Ireland.
Ground to Air - 129.95 (Castletownbere and Blacksod)
Marine - Channel 16 or Working Channel
Aircraft Callsigns:
Rescue 115 (Shannon)
Rescue 116 (Dublin)
Rescue 117 (Waterford)
The Sikorsky S61N helicopter has 4 fuel tanks. They can either be Gravity or Pressure refuelled with the exception of the auxiliary tank, which must be gravity re-fuelled. The tank capacities are:
All fuelling panels are located on the left (port) side of the aircraft.
It is the responsibility of the aircrew to ensure all persons travelling by SAR helicopters are briefed and wearing the correct protective clothing.
The aircraft will land pointing towards the wind. This may put the door away from the most suitable embarkation position and out of view. The direction of entry towards the door in this case will be around the nose of the aircraft.
Do not pass underneath the tail boom or tail rotor!
Any persons awaiting the arrival of a S.A.R aircraft for embarkation should be mustered away from the helicopter landing area in a Safe Place. Ideally this would be inside a nearby building. Once the aircraft has arrived a crewman will meet the intending passengers, brief them and ensure they are equipped correctly. Once satisfied, the passengers will be marshalled to the aircraft with the assistance of the helipad attendant.
Once the aircraft has landed a crewman will marshall the survivors/passengers off the aircraft. Once clear of the aircraft the helipad attendant should assist the crewman in this task.
In the event of an S.A.R. aircraft arriving with a casualty requiring medical assistance the helipad attendant should park the awaiting ambulance or doctor in a safe place clear of the landing area. Once landed, the crewman will signal when it is safe to approach the aircraft to offload the casualty in the stretcher.