An internal report has unvcovered delays in a new €800m contract for search-and-rescue services provided by Bristow Ireland has faced delays and raised safety concerns.
The start of search-and-rescue operations with new helicopters was delayed beyond the scheduled date, as the aircraft are not yet certified for night-time rescues or hospital flights.
The report highlighted compressed timelines for the transition from CHC Ireland to Bristow. Concerns have been raised about the rapid rollout to the investigation of a fatal helicopter crash in Norway that questioned the adequacy of rapid service transitions.
As Bristow prepares to take over, the Department of Transport assures that a contingency plan is in place for an uninterrupted search-and-rescue service, while ongoing training and certification processes are being developed to ensure safe operations.
