Defence Forces receives air ambulance noise complaint

The Defence Forces confirmed to the Westmeath Independent this week that it has received a complaint from the Athlone area in relation to the noise levels associated with the air ambulance operating from Custume Barracks. A spokesman for the Defence Forces said one complaint had been received and this was currently being investigated. The air ambulance first began operating from Custume Barracks in June on a one-year pilot basis. However, less than three weeks after it began operating the EuroCopter (EC) 135 helicopter was involved in a heavy landing incident in Tipperary. There were no injuries during the landing but the helicopter was damaged and is still being examined. In July it was replaced with an Augusta Westland (AW) 139 helicopter, which initially began operating from Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell with a spokeswoman for the Department of Defence telling the Westmeath Independent at the time that the noise levels associated with the larger helicopter would be too much for a small built-up area like Athlone. This stance from the Department met with some scepticism locally at the time and a couple of weeks later it resumed from Athlone. The Defence Forces said this week the difference in the noise levels of the two helicopters was not significant. In a statement to the Westmeath Independent the Defence Forces stated: "The difference in Effective Perceived Noise Levels (EPNL) between the AW 139 and EC 135 is not considered significant and is 1.7 decibels for take off and 1.4 decibels for approach, a time when the aircraft engines operate at their highest output level." The Defence Forces statement added that it operates six AW 139 Helicopters and two EC 135 Helicopters (one of which was involved in a hard landing and is not currently operational). The two different helicopter types fulfil different roles for the Defence Forces. The statement added: "The helicopters used by the Defence Forces operate into and out of most military installations, training areas and hospital-based helipads throughout the State. The size difference between the AW 139 and EC 135 is not a factor in operating into these sites." Since it began operating on June 4, the Air Corps Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service has responded to 37 call outs. The EAS service supports the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes, such as acute coronary syndrome and stroke.