The provision of services Support by the Hour (SBH) for Helicopters

Description

1.1 The Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) provides Operational Air Support for An Garda Síochána, the Irish National Police Service. The unit currently comprises of two helicopters – an EC135T2 helicopter serial number 0149 and an EC135T2+ helicopter serial number 0478. The primary mission of the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) is to provide a patrol and response capability in the assistance of operational ground units of An Garda Síochána. This is generally achieved through visual contact flights. GASU helicopters are required to operate by day and by night (subject to visual weather minima), with the broad objective being to seek out and identify the target, establish and maintain visual contact with the target while directing ground units to the scene or to intercept. 1.3 The expected maximum utilisation of the helicopters will be approximately 1000 per annum for the EC135T2+ and 800 hours for the EC135T2. The nature of police operations requires that the helicopters are both maintained to ensure high rates of availability (in excess of 85% for both helicopters of 24 hours 365 days per annum). A commercial contractor familiar with the EC135 currently maintains both aircraft