Unlike the 1st AW189 destined for the Irish Coast Guard - refer to picture ID 701869 - , the 2nd AW189 already carries the irish registration. This aircraft will begin flight training in Ireland in August 2024 and will then receive it's full mission equipment latter. The contract won by Bristow Helicopters will consist of 5 new aircraft, while a 6th will be drawn from the current Bristow AW189 fleet in the UK. The six helicopters will be based on four bases (Dublin-Weston, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo), and will be supplement by two Beech King Air fixed-wing aircraft.

In late May 2023, Bristow Helicopters won the tender to provide for Ireland's SAR needs for the next ten years. Here, the 1st new AW189 destined for that contract can be seen during a refueling stop in Switzerland, while being ferry flown from Milano to Aberdeen. There, it will be equipped with the necessary SAR mission equipment (as G-CMTP), before relocating to Ireland for training the flight crews, ground and offshore partners. The heli will be put into service on November 1, 2024 (by then with a EI-registration), starting to replace the current SAR S-92's operated by CHC Helicopters.

Written off in a non fatal accident 20 April 2020 as N908CH, CHI Aviation

Captured during a rescue exercise in the Wicklow Mountains National Park using callsign "Rescue116", this 2006 built S-92A is acutally one of five operated by CHC Ireland. Four operational bases are maintained on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard and strategically located around the irish coastal cities of Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo. On each base, a crew of six people (2 pilots, 2 rescue specialists and 2 mechanics on the ground) provide a 24/7 SAR and HEMS service. To keep proficient, many different scenarios over the sea but also in mountain rescue operations are constantly trained.

Based at Waterford Airport, 'ICS' was a training mission along the County Wexford shoreline.

In memory of Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith, the crew of 'Rescue 116' who sadly lost their lives the week after this photo was taken. Thanks Ciarán showing us around and making this an excellent visit. May you and your colleagues Rest in Peace.

Sligo is one of four airports in Ireland to have an S-92 based, the others being Dublin, Shannon & Waterford.

After retirement from service with the Coast Guard these two S61s were dismantled at Weston and shipped to new owners in the USA.

Winch practice on Lough Derg, Dromineer, Ireland