The Irish Air Corps completed more than 310 Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service missions in 2018, including support for tackling gorse fires in Saggart. That’s according to Fine Gael Cllr. Emer Higgins who hailed the support provided to our communities by the women and men of the Air Corps. The Air Corps, many of whom are based locally in Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, responded to a vast range of Aid to Civil Power (ATCP) and Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) requests during 2018 – assisting An Garda Síochána, the HSE, local authorities and other key agencies of the State. EAS Service missions are a vital part of this work and involve Air crews supporting the HSE in providing a medical service for seriously ill patients, often in rural communities.
“What our service men and service women do is incredible. We saw them in action locally this year during Storm Emma and the wildfire in Saggart forest,” said Cllr. Emer Higgins. “I had the pleasure of attending an Air Corps Women’s Network event recently where I had the opportunity to meet many of the servicewomen and service men based in Baldonnel who play a crucial role in supporting communities across the island. I want to thank all members of the Air Corps for their service and Brigadier General Sean Claney, General Officer Commanding for his leadership both in our community and in the Air Corps,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins. Among the more high profile exercises conducted by the Air Corps in 2018 saw crews travelling across the border to assist communities in Northern Ireland dealing with Gorse Fires.
Caption: Cllr. Emer Higgins pictured with General Officer Commanding, Air Corps, at her visit to Casement Aerodrome with senior business leaders from PayPal.
