AW189 and S-92 in the Irish Marine Rescue System [Update]

The increasing number of Irish Coast Guard interventions, changes in the SAR aircraft component and the use of rescue helicopters have become subject to increasing debate.

In Irish realities, hardware decisions are not always clearly seen as strengthening operational capacity, as is due to the specificity of activities in the Atlantic waters.

In one of the discussions under our earlier article (link to text), regarding the increasing number of interventions of the Irish Coast Guard conducted under demanding conditions off the coast of Ireland, the comments of our reader from portal X – Wojtek. He pointed out that the replacement of S-92 type AW189 helicopters used so far does not need to be clearly seen as strengthening the SAR system, and in practice could mean a change in the operational profile of Irish marine rescue.

The analysis of the available technical data of both machines shows that this remark is not without foundation, although its full significance is only revealed in the comparison of real scenarios of activities conducted in difficult weather conditions and far from the shoreline. It was this context that became the starting point for a broader perspective on changes in the Irish maritime SAR component.

Geography that does not forgive simplification

Ireland is one of the countries with extremely demanding conditions for conducting marine rescue operations. The open Atlantic, a long and rocky coastline, numerous cliffs and islands away from the mainland make it not only coastal but often oceanic. Under such conditions, the margin of error in rescue operations may be small, and hardware decisions take on meanings that are difficult to compare with the realities of the Baltic or North Sea.

This is why, in Ireland, any change in the SAR system, especially regarding aviation, is analysed not only by specialists but also by former commanders, rescuers and the marine environment.

Case of a fishing vessel Fastnet as a reference point

A good example of this discussion is the rescue action of 15 December 2025 carried out by a French fishing boat Fastnet, which after engine failure settled on rocks in the Dingle area. 14 crew members were evacuated from the deck using a rescue helicopter based in Shannon. The operation was conducted in difficult weather conditions, with strong wind and high wave, and the entire take-up lasted about 20 minutes.

The action was successful, however – important – required two helicopter approaches. The comments stated that for previously used machinery used by the Irish Coast Guard it would be possible to take the entire crew once, which became the starting point for a debate on the suitability of individual types of helicopters in the Irish SAR system.

Where it ends "good enough"

Former Director of the Irish Coast Guard pointed out that action at Fastnet It ran near the shore. In his opinion, a similar event, but occurring several hundred nautical miles from land, could have a completely different finale. Under these conditions, the number of people to be evacuated during a single helicopter approach ceases to be a technical detail and becomes a matter of life and death.

In this context, it is worth noting that the introduction of four helicopters alone AW189 need not automatically mean strengthening the capacity of the Irish Coast Guard. Replacement of previously used heavier helicopters S-92 another design, designed under a different task profile, means a change in the operational nature of the rescue system. Therefore, the critical voices around this decision do not refer to the quality of the machine itself, but to the consequences of its use under difficult environmental conditions typical of the Irish coast.

This is where differences between different types of machines begin to have operational significance, not just cataloguing significance. An additional flight, which is possible at the shore, may no longer be involved in the open Atlantic.

Leonardo AW189 – structural characteristics and application

Leonardo AW189 is a civil, two-engine multitasking helicopter, developed by European concern Leonardo since 2011. The design was designed for a wide range of applications, including transport tasks, offshore operations and search and rescue missions. The machine is characterized by a maximum starting mass of about 8.6 tonnes and a cabin allowing flexible configuration for the transport of persons or specialised equipment.

AW189 are used in search and rescue tasks by civil and state users. Depending on the configuration, these helicopters may carry medical equipment and evacuation equipment for those affected by the winch. Construction AW189 applies to activities carried out in both coastal and deep sea areas.

Sikorsky S-92 – heavier platform for offshore and SAR tasks

Sikorsky S-92 is a two-engine helicopter designed for long-term offshore operations, in particular for the mining industry and rescue services. The structure is characterized by larger hull dimensions and a large cabin, which allows for one-time transport of more people or extensive medical and rescue equipment.

Helicopters S-92 for years they have been used in search and rescue tasks in countries such as Ireland, the United Kingdom or the Republic of Korea, both by state services and civil operators carrying out government contracts. This design has been widely used in offshore operations, where large ranges and long flight times are important, especially in operations far from the shoreline.

Comparison of helicopters AW189 and S-92

Why Ireland views this differently than the rest of Europe

What is considered acceptable in other countries is far more severe in Irish realities. This is not only due to geography, but also to the nature of the events that services face every day. A large part of the intervention concerns fishing and commercial units operating far from land, often under rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

In such situations, the ability to take more survivors once is crucial. It is not always possible to return after another victim, even if theoretically the time of arrival allows it.

A discussion that has not yet ended

Changes to the Irish air rescue system remain the subject of a lively debate, as they concern not only the equipment used, but also the real possibilities of conducting rescue operations in one of the most demanding European waters. Example of intervention with Fastnet shows that the differences between the helicopter structures used are practical and directly affect the search and rescue operations.

The combination of helicopters differing in size, mass and cabin space shows that not every hardware change means automatic strengthening of operational capacity. In conditions where it is crucial to take as many people as possible on a one-time basis or to carry out activities far from shore, characteristics and opportunities are of particular importance.

Currently, the aviation component of the Irish SAR system is undergoing a stage of changes in the implementation of the government contract by the Bristow Ireland operator. The Sikorsky S-92 helicopters used to date are gradually replaced by Leonardo AW189. The first new type helicopters have already been put into service, but the process of full transition to the new fleet is still ongoing.

Returning to the starting point where our reader pointed out the ambiguous assessment of changes in the Irish aircraft component SAR, the question of the long-term consequences of this decision remains valid. In the long term, will the conversion of the helicopters used to the AW189 marine variant actually translate into an increase in the effectiveness of marine rescue in frequent conditions stormThis and rapidly changing weather off the coast of Ireland will bring new organisational and operational challenges to Ireland Coast Guard? The answer to this question will probably come from the coming years, showing in practice whether this risky decision has produced the intended effect or revealed its limitations.

Voice from discussion: capacity, coverage and "what if there were more of them"

In the discussion under our article, there were voices pointing to issues that regularly return to this type of rescue. Our reader Wojciech Koliczka pointed to the problem of the target capacity of rescue measures (SRU) and the consequences of its limitations in border situations. Every successful evacuation raises a natural question: What if there were more people on board?.

In another comment, Mrs Barbara Maliszewska pointed out the equally important aspect – that regardless of the technical parameters of the machines themselves, the effectiveness of marine rescue also depends on the human factor. The experience of crews, their training and their ability to operate under extremely difficult conditions remain elements that cannot be replaced with even the most advanced equipment. At the same time, as she stressed in the discussion, it is precisely the combination of the competences of people with the capabilities of modern technology that makes many modern rescue actions effective in general.

In the background of this discussion, there is also a question of changing the helicopter fleet – moving away from heavy S-92 machines to AW189. As Wojciech Koliczka notes, economic arguments are rarely raised in the context of saving human life, but often accompanied by contractual decisions. It was also pointed out that an alternative solution could have been to leave at least one heavier machine in the system, especially since the Bristow operator in other countries operates in parallel both AW189 and S-92 helicopters.

The completion of this perspective is a map of operating range and the deployment of bases of individual types of helicopters, made available by our reader Wojciech. This summary shows not only the radius of operation of individual machines, but also the mutual coverage of areas of responsibility. It is this kind of material that makes it easier to understand that the discussion on the selection of the rescue platform concerns not a single incident, but the entire architecture of the Irish SAR system.