THE Rescue 118 crew have confirmed that a high volume of sightings over recent months has been due to training exercises.
Rescue 118 has been engaged in training with night vision goggles in the early months of 2021.
Members of the public have noted the increased presence of the rescue helicopter in the Donegal skies of late.
The crew have confirmed that these exercises are ‘why we have been carrying out a lot of flights around the various landing pads at Letterkenny, Sligo and Mayo University Hospitals and around Strandhill.’
Rescue 118 thanked the crews of Inishbofin Ferry, Arranmore Ferry and the hospital staff who have facilitated their exercises.
The crew also paid tribute to the air traffic controls and the fire service at Sligo Airport, adding: ‘These guys keep us safe and refuel Rescue 118 every-time we land no matter what time of the night or weather and our engineers keeping 2 helicopters in the air.’
Rescue 118 is based at Strandhill and is one of five helicopters used by the Irish Coast Guard with others deployed at bases in Dublin, Waterford and Shannon.
These aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains of Ireland.
They can also be used for assistance in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and aerial surveillance during daylight hours, lifting and passenger operations and other operations as authorised by the Coast Guard within appropriate regulations.
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