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The Irish Air Corps AW-139 is a similar variant of the US Grey Wolf chopper. Irish Defence Forces

Irish Air Corps experts travel to US to share their helicopter experiences with American pilots

The Irish Air Corps experts travelled to Wyoming in the US to advise the US 20th Air Force on the adoption of the Grey Wolf helicopter.

IRISH AIR CORPS personnel who work on the helicopter fleet have travelled to the US to help US Air Force crews adjust to a new aircraft. 

The trip at the start of August saw three Air Corps experts visit the 20th Air Force at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.

The Air Corps team, led by Col. David Corcoran, Chief Air Staff Operations, with Commandant Colin Duffy, a specialist in Ratings and Standards and Sergeant Matthew Carroll, a Rear Crew Instructor went there to share lessons learned by the Irish Air Corps on the AW 139.

The 20th Air Force are set to replace their aging Huey helicopter fleet with the new and hugely advanced MH 139 Grey Wolf – a variant of the Irish AW 139. They are set to take delivery of more than 80 aircraft in a massive investment. 

The Irish Air Corps have been using the AgustaWestland chopper since 2006 as a general purpose “Swiss Army Knife” platform for everything from air ambulance missions, to wildfire fighting to Army Ranger Wing Special Operations. 

This expertise and experience, Col David Corcoran said, was what caught the eye of the US aviators. 

“We use the aircraft a little bit like a Swiss Army Knife. It is a multi-role, multi-functional multi-mission helicopter. And we use it in a wide range of tasks,” he said.

Corcoran said that the way the Irish Air Corps use the helicopter is identical to the missions the US will use it for – it is a utility transport aircraft.

Night vision

As the 20th Air Force have been using the aged Huey helicopter, which began flying in the 1960s, the new Grey Wolf aircraft will have a more modern display cockpit. This creates challenges for pilots more used to a traditional cockpit which has dials as opposed to lighted screens. 

The Irish pilots were able to discuss the methods they use to fly at night with the US pilots and show them techniques they have developed to use night vision goggles.

This was just one example, Corcoran said, in which the the Irish Air Corps pilots were able to impart experience and knowledge to the US personnel.  

Col Corcoran 3 Colonel David Corcoran on board one of the US helicopters with a US pilot. Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

“That’s something not too many organisations have mastered. We’ve been operating with night vision since 2008.

“We were able to engage professionally with our fellow aviators in the Air Force, and deal with them in a way in which we have experience and understanding how to operate and use the technology,” he explained. 

There were also discussions with pilots about how the Air Corps utilise the aircraft and convert or adapt the airframe to the various missions such as medical evacuation flights and special forces operations. 

Matthew Carroll also discussed aspects such as fire support missions with weaponry and also Colin Duffy discussing the protocols for safe flying. 

irish-air-corps-members-visit-f-e-warren Sgt. Eric Jensen, of the 582nd Operations Support Squadron, explains a virtual reality weapons system to Commandant Colin Duffy from the Irish Air Corps, during an immersion into helicopter operations. US Air Force US Air Force

The weeklong trip also included an opportunity to fly the UH-1N Huey at night and by day. 

Corcoran told The Journal that he has been in the Air Corps for the last 33 years and he believes that the AW 139 has been a success story for the service. 

Corcoran said: “Before we had the aircraft we had very limited capabilities in terms of flying operations – when you talk about the original Alouette (helicopter).

“We set about introducing high levels of technology, using night vision goggles capability to enhance the capabilities of the Defence Forces and the Air Corps in particular.

“I think this aircraft has brought about a quantum shift and the capabilities of the Air Corps across all our missions, which support all the government departments, whether that be Justice, Housing, Health, the Coast Guard, Department of Transport, the Army, the Navy, or any of the various Departments we supply and support across government.”

The trip came about after 20th Air Force commanding officer Major General Michael Lutton visited the Air Corps Headquarters in Casement Aerodrome in south County Dublin. 

That set in train a chance for the Irish and the US Air Force to begin liaising about the new helicopters. 

It is not the first international relationship by the Defence Forces – recently the Air Corps were able to assist the Armed Forces of  Malta as they took delivery of the AW139 aircraft. 

Corcoran said there were a lot of conversations about many of the air crews’ Irish ancestry but also the general shared experiences of military aviators.

While there they were granted unprecedented access which included night and day formation flying to see how the US uses their helicopters. 

International cooperation

Corcoran said that the US trip is just one example of the huge benefits of the international co-operation between different countries with US aviators set to travel to Ireland.

“There was a very strong emphasis throughout on the safety of flying operations. And of course, there was a very strong emphasis coming from Major General Lutton and all his staff that they wanted to provide any assistance they could to the Irish Defence Forces and the Irish Air Corps as we move forward. It was a huge compliment for the Defence Forces to be invited there. 

“I didn’t see this as a one way street, it was something that they would look to share and grow and develop,” he added. 

irish-air-corps-members-visit-f-e-warren US Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Lutton, commander of the 20th Air Force, Jeremy Prichard, historian for 20 AF chatting to the Irish aviators at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. US Air Force US Air Force

For his part Major General Lutton, in a statement, hailed the visit by the Irish aviators.  

“Cross-talks like this serve the valuable purpose of fostering ties between partner nations, but this one has an extra, added benefit to the helicopter group and squadrons of 20th Air Force.

“Since the Irish Air Corps has been flying a variant of our ‘Grey Wolf’ for about 16 years, we can share operational and tactical-level concepts to lead-turn the onboarding of our new aircraft at our bases. We also look forward to members of the helicopter group travelling to Ireland this fall to continue our partnership,” he said.

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35 Comments
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    Mute Coli Byrne
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    Aug 28th 2022, 8:27 AM

    “Here’s what to do when the door falls off lads…”

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    Mute David Stapleton
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    Aug 28th 2022, 8:44 AM

    @Coli Byrne: thanks for that, I’m sitting on the small balcony of a rented Airbnb room in Toulouse, trying to be quiet and starting laughing my @55 off.

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    Mute John Doyle
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:07 AM

    @Coli Byrne: Brilliant

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:40 AM

    @Coli Byrne: LoL

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:28 AM

    Before the rot of comments on a sunday creep in, let me say that they save so so many lives in rural communities with the gold plated work they do as air ambulance, last year i saw them save three lives on a sunday morning.. They didnt show anything but professional standards to the commuinty.. Hat off to them (point your ire to the politcal class)

    198
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:44 AM

    @David Dineen: 99 untimely deaths of their own personnel, average age 53, hundreds of personel sick, genetic & developmental harm to the children of personnel, fish kills in local rivers, lying to WRC, lying to HC, CoA & SC, lying to EPA, lying to Oireachtas via Minister, legal action threatened by HSA & FSAI, serious sexual assault allegation by both male & female personnel, medical boarding of sick personel they injured, theft of aircraft to avoid mandatory drugs test, rigging of air quality tests, hiding of adverse air quality test results, use of banned chemicals, dumping of toxic chemicals in the ground and on and on and on.

    I’ll point my ire at the perpetrators thank you.

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:52 AM

    @Gavin Tobin: you do realise you talking about the process and policy etc? Im writing about the in realtime experience of humans saving humans using proffesional and empathic skills, before or after ur ire is wasted and saved in the datashpere for ever maybe dont be so harsh on you and others, its not a good look and wont get u far in making your valid points stick to the heart of those who u want to change

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 11:01 AM

    @David Dineen: I’m talking about the culture, the Air Corps are a rogue service. Air Ambulance is not a military role and civvy Air Ambulance can save lives too without the corruption, negligence & incompetence.

    You are making a “but what about all the good priests” argument. The Air Corps are letting their own personnel die without medical intervention by downplaying the scandal to everybody in authority & media they have the ear of.

    The RAAF did the right thing quickly in a similar scandal that reduced suffering and saved lives. Why can’t the Air Corps do that, why are they letting their own die unnecessarily?

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 11:29 AM

    @Gavin Tobin: as a sexual abuse surviour of familly and insutional abuse i reject your insenstive comment, it says alot when peoole use the pain and suffering of a group of people whose vioces remain shut because of abuse to make a point…

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 11:40 AM

    @David Dineen: Thanks for the straw man argument, I’m not buying it. The Catholic Church needed good people look the other way for their corrupt ways to continue. The Irish Air Corps also needs people to look the other way and also needs apologists to help perpetuate their saintly myth.

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 12:27 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: people like you u mean? Yup i agree your parents and no doubt the cultrue of raising you deeply contributed to the abuse of children..

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    Mute Damien Leen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:18 AM

    And this one time we actually got to fly in the helicopter!

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    Mute Gin & Jetfuel
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    Aug 28th 2022, 3:23 PM

    @Damien Leen: Oddy enough those of us living near Baldonnel see these rotary winged aircraft overhead multiple times a day.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:24 AM

    Will #IrishAirCorps be sending their incompetent & negligent Health & Safety experts too?

    Perhaps they can tell the yanks about the body count in Heli Wing from catastrophic chemical health & safety from the late 60s to present as well as chemical hazing incidents in the past that destroyed the health of Heli & Avionics personnel as well as many others passing the hangar doors.

    The attempted media rehabilitation of the Air Corps is nauseating at this stage. #99dead #IAC100 #DelayDenyDie

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Aug 28th 2022, 1:10 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: Your copy and paste diatribes on every article about the Defence Forces are boring at this stage. These claims for damages caused allegedly by chemicals misuse are with the State Claims Agency now, are they not? What do you expect to achieve with this guff every five minutes?

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 2:48 PM

    @Eoin Roche: My priority is to help save lives and reduce suffering. This is not being done as it was done in NL Defence Forces & RAAF with targeted medical intervention.

    State Claims Agency are frustrating cases & High Court doesn’t do healthcare.

    Thanks for your concern and apologies for boring you Sir.

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Aug 28th 2022, 3:33 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: And what does repeatedly posting the same grievances here do for any of that? Anyone with an interest in the Defence Forces knows about these issues for at least the last 5 years. Bleating about how the media cover current DF stories, as if it has some context to those cases, is just a waste of everyone’s time.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 3:39 PM

    @Eoin Roche: The public need reminding of state impropriety such as DF incompetence, negligence & corruption especially when the DFPO are on an inane propaganda offensive.

    I’ll keep fighting for those without a voice and for those who are not taking legal cases.

    You keep looking the other way like a proper yes man!

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    Mute Dave Omihuly
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:50 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: plus the chief of staff is flying club so he is plugging his own branch in the media 24/7 just like the Muppet melett before him was banging on about the navy …. hasn’t been a real chief of staff since the 90is now its just a political appointment actually they would probably be better off letting the orderly sgt on the day do the job of COS

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:58 PM

    @Dave Omihuly: Yea it was all ships for years with no one to sail them, now it’s all airplanes with no one to maintain them except manufacturer contractors.

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    Mute Pat O'Brien
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:05 AM

    So I have just reached the end of the Internet.

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    Mute Reg
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    Aug 28th 2022, 11:37 AM

    Nice jolly!

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    Mute Dave Omihuly
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:46 AM

    I bet that flight sgt feels right out of place stuck with a bunch of officers

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    Mute Y U no spell good?
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:50 AM

    @Dave Omihuly: even with the Sgt who was part of the the team of three?

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Aug 28th 2022, 12:42 PM

    The joke at the time going around was that the decision to purchase the AW139 was due to all the property developers using them.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 1:03 PM

    @Dave Byrne: A civvy spec heli just painted army green.

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    Mute Gin & Jetfuel
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    Aug 28th 2022, 3:25 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: so quite appropriate as a “Utility transport helicopter” then?
    Lots of military forces use ruggedised civil vehicles.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 3:33 PM

    @Gin & Jetfuel: it is not ruggedised in any way. The bean counters in the DoD would not allow it. Apparently even the green paint had to be fought for.

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    Mute Dave Omihuly
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:44 PM

    What the hell can our flying club teach the US military about choppers they are flying every shape and size of chopper that’s around….they are use them like we use jeeps in the defence forces here ….and many of them flown by national guard ( reserve’s) they have that many of the things if they break one they take a new one out of the wrapper…..and are doing so well before Vietnam…when we where still using British army left over vehicles….as usual nice mingy trip for a few officers out of the flying club

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:00 PM

    @Dave Omihuly: Did they bring a higher (unneeded) rank to maximise sub :)

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    Mute Mick Cullen
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    Aug 28th 2022, 10:19 AM

    Ha Ha Ha Teeeee

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    Mute
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:20 AM

    Why?

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Aug 28th 2022, 9:28 AM

    They need to teach the yanks how to close the aft doors properly, air corps leaders in door losing :)

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Aug 29th 2022, 7:36 AM

    Are we sending over our aircraft Carrier experts too? (though right now the Royal Navy may have a greater need for our Carrier expertise as the UK flagship carrier is broken down and anchored off the south coast.)

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    Mute Dónal Ó Keeffe
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    Aug 29th 2022, 8:56 AM

    Just a purchasing mission. Wining and dining our officers to sell us some helicopters

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