[Boxkite]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39264233

[ClearOfCloud]

Rescue 116, an S92 out of Dublin. It was providing top cover to Rescue 118 out of Sligo for a long range medical transfer.
One crew member rescued in a critical condition. The RNLI, Coastguard, Irish Naval Service and a number of fishing vessels are still on scene searching for the other 3 crew.

[seanjd]

[MikeB]

Very sad news. Have been privileged to watch a number of the the Irish Coastguard choppers attending various fly-ins in Ireland and have chatted with several crewmembers.

[riverrock]

I understand debris from the helicopter has been found.
Worth noting that this helicopter is regularly seen in S&R roles over Northern Ireland also.

[Lefty]

I've been lucky never to have needed them - but I have always known that they were there should I need them. My thoughts go out to the families of the crew.

[SteveC]

It looks like they have recovered one survivor in serious condition. Fingers crosssed for the rest.

[CloudHound]

Sad news on the radio news just now about the fate of the rescued crew member.

[Dave W]

The recovered and sadly deceased crew member now named. Captain Dara Fitzpatrick: She was CHC's most senior pilot.

[Lefty]

Dara is normally a man's name?

[flybymike]

Rescue 116, an S92 out of Dublin. It was providing top cover to Rescue 118

What exactly does "top cover" mean in this context?

[riverrock]

Dara as a name is a pretty even male / female split AFAIK.

She was well respected as the most senior pilot on the CHC fleet in Ireland.

[Lefty]

Let's not get into that discussion here.
Lets just reflect on the fact that 4 fellow aviators have lost their lives whilst helping save other people's lives.

Edited - Having seen her photo - I do recall being her featured on a TV documentary series about the work of the Irish Coastguard and rescue services. Very sad.

[seanjaymo]

Top cover means (in this instance) that they were relaying radio signals due to the distance between the original aircraft and the coast.

[SteveC]

Let's not get into that discussion here.
Lets just reflect on the fact that 4 fellow aviators have lost their lives whilst helping save other people's lives.

Edited - Having seen her photo - I do recall being her featured on a TV documentary series about the work of the Irish Coastguard and rescue services. Very sad.

Such a shame. We should never forget the dedication of these people who are ready to lay down their lives to save the likes of us.

RIP.