CHC Helicopters opened its new search-and-rescue base at the Dublin, Ireland, airport last week. The event included an aircraft and base tour and live winching display.
CEO Karl Fessenden noted that the company had been providing helicopter SAR service in Ireland for nearly 20 years and that the improved facility includes additional office space, enhanced living accommodations, and a modern hangar for maintenance activities. “The improvements that have been made to the base will give our crews access to the best possible facilities to ensure that they can continue to deliver their vital, lifesaving work,” he said.
CHC flies more than 1,000 SAR missions annually in Ireland, saving hundreds of people, according to the company. Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport, Shane Ross TD, said CHC’s new facility would enable the company to continue to deliver the best possible service for the Irish Coast Guard and “ultimately the people who count on that service here in Ireland.”