Air Ambulance Mission Halted as Irish Air Corps Grounds PC-12s

URGENT UPDATE: The Irish Air Corps has grounded its fleet of four PC-12 aircraft, leading to a crucial air ambulance mission being “stood down.” This major disruption occurred following an audit that revealed significant maintenance shortcomings, forcing operations to halt as of September 15, 2025.

The PC-12 aircraft, purchased by the Defence Forces for approximately €50 million in 2020, are vital for diverse operations, including surveillance, government transport, and air ambulance flights. With the fleet out of service for a week, the air ambulance requests were deferred, leaving critical medical missions unfulfilled.

Sources reveal that the grounding resulted from a lack of qualified technicians to maintain the aircraft. Reports indicate that less than half of the necessary ground staff at Baldonnel airfield were available, attributed to staff departures and ongoing recruitment challenges. This situation is not unprecedented, as similar groundings have occurred in the past.

The National Emergency Coordination Centre confirmed the suspension of air ambulance operations, stating, “No planned PC-12 Ops for this week except for training.” This highlighted the urgent need for maintenance to ensure the aircraft’s airworthiness.

The quality assurance audit uncovered not only major issues with the aircraft’s Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programme (CAMP) but also numerous minor failings. The minutes from the September 15 meeting, attended by senior Air Corps officials including Brigadier General Rory O’Connor, emphasized the critical situation that led to the suspension of operations.

After a week, the PC-12s were cleared to return to service, resuming their air ambulance missions. A PC-12 was notably used to transport a political delegation to Brussels for an important EU meeting shortly after. However, the aircraft has faced previous challenges; in October 2023, it was grounded due to serious faults while ferrying then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin to Luxembourg.

In response to the maintenance issues, solutions may involve engaging civilian contractors such as Rose Aviation or collaborating directly with the aircraft manufacturer, Pilatus, in Switzerland.

A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces stated, “For operational security reasons, we do not comment on the disposition of the Air Corps fleet.”

This unfolding situation raises concerns about the readiness of the Air Corps to respond to emergencies, particularly as reliance on air ambulance services remains critical.

As developments continue, observers will be watching closely for further updates on the state of the Air Corps and its operational capacities.