The 24-hour search and rescue cover promised for the south-east coast this week may be relocated to Cork, due to Waterford airport's financial difficulties.
Cork is one of the options now being examined by the Irish Coast Guard, while there is also a possibility that existing medium-lift helicopter services in Dublin and Shannon could be doubled up to serve the south coast.
The final decision is expected to be taken shortly by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern.
The 24-hour service run by CHC Helicopters was due to come into effect in Waterford on New Year's Day, on contract to the Coast Guard. This was to fulfil a long-standing commitment to restore the all-weather service in the region after the crash of the Air Corps Dauphin helicopter with the loss of four airmen in July 1999.
Following the crash, the Air Corps continued to run a 12-hour helicopter rescue service with an Alouette, pending more suitable medium-lift helicopter replacements for the Dauphin helicopter fleet. However, even before the political row developed over Department of Defence contracts for new medium-lift aircraft, the Coast Guard was under pressure to provide an interim arrangement.
CHC Helicopters runs the existing medium-lift services at Shannon and Dublin, and the awarding of a third contract for the south-east has left the Air Corps with one base, in the north-west. However, Air Corps pilots have been trained to use a Sikorsky S-61 medium-lift helicopter.
Problems with staffing delayed CHC's start-up date in Waterford, and the final blow came late last year when the regional airport said it could no longer provide support facilities beyond January 26th because of the withdrawal on that date of the Euroceltic airline.
