How many garda helicopters in ireland

Image: Sam Boal via RollingNews. Short URL. About the author:. Garreth MacNamee. See more articles by Garreth MacNamee.

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Post Comment. All AS Ns used by police forces feature a purpose built instrument panel combining high levels of visibility with ergonomic placement of controls and the TV monitor. The Greater Manchester Police have recently pioneered the use of a radio video down-link that transmits images from the nose mounted thermal imager back to the police control room.

This equipment has also been adopted by the Met Police. The AS N Squirrel has a maximum takeoff weight of 2, kg in internal payload configuration, and 2, with a cargo sling. It can accommodate one pilot and between four and six passengers, but this depends on the tactical equipment onboard. It is believed that the fit-out specifications requested by the Force were quite high, and will include all the latest communications equipment, including encrypted radio links.

It should also be fitted with a PA system, search light, TV camera, night vision facilities, microwave down-link for images, stabilised binoculars and the latest in computerised moving map technology.

It is also understood that the helicopter will have some form of light armour under the seats and around the engine bay, to protect both it and its crew from ground fire. It may also have a wire strike protector, which lessens the chances of the rotors becoming snagged in overhead power lines. The Defender is larger than one of its sister aircraft, the Islander, which will be familiar to anyone who has flown to the Aran Islands, as this is the aircraft used by Aer Arann.

The Islander is renowned for its ability to land 'practically anywhere', and the Defender continues that tradition. Indeed the Cheshire police force, currently being featured on Sky television's 'Coppers' documentary series, have an Islander at their disposal. The Defender is a high wing monoplane of metal construction and fixed tricycle undercarriage - rugged and simple to maintain.

Its fuselage is rectangular in section and is manufactured from aluminium alloys. The aircraft structure is designed to have exceptional fatigue life over 40, hours and all aircraft parts are protected against corrosion. The high wing configuration provides a maximum unobstructed field of view. A tendering process for this upgrade has commenced and has been published. I am informed that it is intended that the Role Equipment currently on this aircraft will subsequently be installed into the Eurocopter T2 Helicopter.

My Department continues to engage with Garda management on an ongoing basis in relation to that matter, as well as ongoing engagement more generally on current and capital resource needs. Cookies on oireachtas. We'd like to use analytics and functionality cookies to help us improve it but we require your consent to do so. Read more about our cookies. You need to update your browser.