The General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen Patrick Cranfield, said he was "not certain" why there was no licensed air traffic controller in Waterford airport on the night 14 months ago the Dauphin helicopter crashed off Tramore. However, Brig Gen Cranfield also said that while such a function was important, it was not always used, given the response time required in an emergency rescue mission.
Speaking to RTE television yesterday, Brig Gen Cranfield said that back-up for the southeast search and rescue base was a combined responsibility, and there had been many discussions with the Department of Defence and Waterford airport. "The back-up must be there and the back-up wasn't there," he said.
Brig Gen Cranfield said he was satisfied the crew had been adequately trained. In a statement, he said the report was "very thorough, balanced and detailed". He said his immediate action would be to "study and assimilate the content of the recommendations and to implement them with urgency". Some action had already been taken - a flight safety office, headed by a highly qualified flying officer, had been provided. Waterford airport, which had been inaccurately identified as culpable in a leaked version of a draft, has also described the report as "comprehensive".
A spokesman said their first thoughts were for the family, friends and colleagues of the men who died. However, it is understood that the airport has still not been asked to provide a qualified air traffic controller, meteorological information or accommodation for the Air Corps search and rescue helicopter base. The airport management said: "Since the inception of search and rescue operations, Waterford airport has comprehensively fulfilled all requests for facilities from the Air Corps, and we continue to do so today."
Mr Tony Baker, father of Capt Michael Baker, said that the air accident investigation unit under Lieut Col Thomas Moloney of the Air Corps had done a "difficult job", and had been very fair. He said he would prefer to see the French system of investigation, whereby the unit would be supplemented by a separate investigating magistrate.
Mr Baker said that he believed Brig Gen Cranfield should resign or be dismissed. Two Government reports had identified the need for medium-range helicopters for search and rescue on this coastline, but these recommendations had been ignored, he said.
