The Air Corps continues to operate a range of rotary and fixed wing aircraft within existing organisational structures. The principal aim over the lifetime of the White Paper will be to ensure that the Air Corps can continue to undertake the required military operations and to deliver a broad range of air supports to other government departments and agencies in line with MOUs and SLAs. In this context, key equipment requirements and decisions are set out below. Should additional funding, beyond that required to maintain existing capabilities become available, the development of a radar surveillance capability is a priority for the Air Corps.
The following units make up the composition of the Air Corps:
Air Corps Headquarters
Air Corps Headquarters comprises of the Office of General Officer Commanding, an Operations Section and a Support Section. In addition three specialist sections, Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA), Flight Safety Section and Military Police Section are attached to Air Corps Headquarters under direct command of General Officer Commanding Air Corps.
Strategic management planning, operational control and planning, personnel and logistical management, public relations and airworthiness of all service aircraft are among the tasks carried out by staff of Air Corps Headquarters.
No. 1 Operations Wing
No. 1 Operations Wing carries out all fixed wing tasks and operations assigned to the Air Corps. The wing is sub divided into six separate operational squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles. The wing currently operates a total of nine aircraft. In addition, the wing is responsible for first line maintenance of all aircraft assigned to it.
Typical operations include
- Inshore & Offshore Maritime patrol
- Ministerial Air Transport Service
- Army Co-op & Reconnaissance
- Garda Air Support
- Air Ambulance
- Search & Rescue top cover
- Parachuting operations
- Escort surveillance & monitoring
- Military transport
No. 3 Operations Wing
No. 3 Operations Wing carries out all rotary wing tasks and operations assigned to the Air Corps. The wing is sub divided into three separate operational squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles.
The wing currently operates a total of eight aircraft, with six Augusta Westland AW139’s and two Eurocopter EC-135’s. In addition, the wing is responsible for first line maintenance of all aircraft assigned to it.
Typical operations include:
- Army support
- Air Ambulance
- Military transport
- Civil assistance
- Inland Search & Rescue
- General utility
- Rotary pilot training
- Ministerial Air Transport Service
No. 4 Support Wing
No. 4 Support Wing carries out scheduled second line maintenance on all Air Corps aircraft. This includes responsibility for all avionic related maintenance, procurement and management of spare parts and aviation fuel management and supply.
The roles include:
- Procurement and management of spare parts
- Fuel management
- Aviation Electronics maintenance
No. 5 Support Wing
No. 5 Support Wing is responsible for all logistical support to the Air Corps. The wing is sub divided into six separate support squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles.
Typical roles include:
- Base administration
- Security & maintenance
- Logistics
- Transport
- Medical Services
- Air Traffic Control services
- Crash Rescue Services
Communications & Information Services Squadron
CIS Squadron is based at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Their job is to deal with all matters pertaining to the Communications, Navigation and Information Technology equipment and systems required by the Air Corps to discharge its assigned roles. They implement Defence Forces CIS policy decisions within the Air Corps through a team of disciplined, well trained, well resourced and highly motivated staff.
The roles include:
- Airfield Services Flight
Airfield Services Flight is responsible for installing, servicing and maintaining a vast array of technical equipment.Airfield Navigation Aid’s such as V.O.R (VHF Omni-directional Range)/D.M.E. (Distance Measuring Equipment), I.L.S. (Instrument Landing System) and associated D.M.E., C.A.D.F. (Commutated Antenna Direction Finder). - Communications Flight
- Communications Flight provides all the ground and some of the air based communications for the Air Corps using UHF, HF and VHF radios. There are two FFR (Fitted for Radios) Nissan vehicles which provide communications between aircraft and base when working in the field.
- Technical Services Flight
Technical Services Flight is responsible for Networking, Power Plant and Telecoms within CIS. - Information Technology Flight
Information Technology Flight has responsibility for the proper functioning of the Communication & Information Services Network (CISN) within the Air Corps and the AS400 Airsoft System.
