Republic Of Ireland; Irish Defense Forces (IDF; Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps

IRISH AIR CORPS (IAC) • Aer-Chór na h-Éireann
Air Corps 860 personnel.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Air 2 ops wg; 2 spt wg; 1 comms and info sqn; 1 air corps college

• AIRCRAFT No combat capable. Total 28 Aircraft.

Advanced Flying Training & Light Attack 8 Adv Trg/Lt Atk ac:
8 Pilatus PC-9M;

Maritime Patrol & Tactical Ttransport 2 MP/Tpt ac:
2 CASA CN-235M-100P MPA Persuader;

Police Support 1 PS ac:
1 Britten-Norman PBN2T-4S Defender 4000;

Transport 3 Tpt Ac:
1 Gulfstream G1159C Gulfstream IV (VIP);
1 Gates Learjet 45 (VIP);

Utility 5 Utl ac:
5 Reims-Cessna FR-172H Rocket

9 Stored or retired Aircrafts:
1 Beech 200T Super King Air;
1 Cessna 560XL Citation Excel;
7 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260WE Warrior (Basic Flying Training, being replaced by Pilatus PC-9M);


• HELICOPTER No armed capable. Total 23 Helicopters.

Utility 11 Utl hel:
6 AgustaWestland AW139;
1 Eurocopter AS-355N Twin Squirrel (police support)
2 Eurocopter EC-135 P2 (incl trg/medevac);
1 Eurocopter EC-135 T2 ;

12 Stored or retired Helicopters:
1 Sikorsky S-61N (VIP);
4 Aérospatiale SA-365FI Dauphin 2 (Navy spt/SAR);
2 Aérospatiale SA-342L Gazelle (Rotary Flying Training);
5 Aérospatiale SA-316B Alouette III (Army spt);


• FACILITIES & ORGANISATION
Air 2 ops wg; 2 spt wg; 1 comms and info sqn; 1 air corps college
Air Corps Airfields and Airbases Organisation:

Air Corps Headquarters:
Air Corps Headquarters comprises of the Office of General Officer Commanding, an Operations Section and a Support Section. In addition three specialist sections, Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA), Flight Safety Section and Military Police Section are attached to Air Corps Headquarters under direct command of General Officer Commanding Air Corps.

Strategic management planning, operational control and planning, personnel and logistical management, public relations and airworthiness of all service aircraft are among the tasks carried out by staff of Air Corps Headquarters.

No. 1 Operations Wing:
No. 1 Operations Wing carries out all fixed wing tasks and operations assigned to the Air Corps. The wing is sub divided into six separate operational squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles. The wing currently operates a total of ten aircraft. In addition, the wing is responsible for first line maintenance of all aircraft assigned to it.

No. 3 Operations Wing:
No. 3 Operations Wing carries out all rotary wing tasks and operations assigned to the Air Corps. The wing is sub divided into three separate operational squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles.

The wing currently operates a total of eight aircraft, with six Augusta Westland AW139’s and two Eurocopter EC-135’s. In addition, the wing is responsible for first line maintenance of all aircraft assigned to it.

No. 4 Support Wing:
No. 4 Support Wing carries out scheduled second line maintenance on all Air Corps aircraft.
This includes responsibility for all avionic related maintenance, procurement and management of spare parts and aviation fuel management and supply.

No. 5 Support Wing:
No. 5 Support Wing is responsible for all logistical support to the Air Corps.
The wing is sub divided into six separate support squadrons, each fulfilling its own specific roles.

Communications & Information Services Squadron:
Communication & Information Squadron (CIS) is responsible for the maintenance and supply of all ground based communications, navigation, radar and Information Technology systems.

Air Corps College:
The Air Corps College is main training unit within the Air Corps. The college is sub divided into three separate schools, Flying Training School (FTS), Technical Training School (TTS) and Military Training & Survival School (MTSS), each fulfilling its own specific training role. The college also currently operates a total of seven aircraft and two simulator, one PC-9M simulator and one Beechcraft Kingair 200 multi-engine simulator. In addition, the college is responsible for first line maintenance of all aircraft assigned to it.

Note: Ireland has 16 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 1; 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4; 914 to 1,523 m: 5; under 914 m: 5), and 23 airport with unpaved runways (914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21)

http://www.military.ie