Irish Coast Guard new aircraft

[JasonT1981]

Looks like the S92s are being replaced by 6 AW189s and the service now contracted out to  Bristow Ireland Limited. They will also get a fixed wing aircraft, 2 King Air from  2EXCEL Ireland

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0f5e0-first-glimpse-of-new-irish-coast-guard-aircraft-fleet/

Not sure I like the move. I feel the S92 is a better S&R helicopter with better range so seems like a downgrade.

[angry turnip]

I hope to ever have to avail of their services,certainly I would expect the S-92 to be more suited to the frequent extreme weather Ireland gets battered with.
Having a fixed wing aircaft is a good move, especially is some sort of " top cover " is required during a rescue to assist relaying comms etc.

I recall reading somewhere a few months back that both the S-92 and AW189 were too large to use several UK hospital helipads.
Looking elsewhere online, a few other locations are replacing the S-92 with the AW189.
Surprisingly the AW189 has a major range advantage over the S-92 of over 200 nautical miles,it`s also cheaper to operate.

https://air.one/compare/leonardo-aw189,sikorsky-s-92

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/198404/next-generation-leonardo-aw189s-will-replace-sikorskys-at-inverness/

https://www.helihub.com/2022/07/21/bristow-wins-ten-year-uksar-2g-contract-with-s92-aw189-and-aw139-fleet/