Current Title:	Garda Siochana Air Support Unit
Title in English:	Garda Air Support Unit
Abbreviation:	GASU

Narrative Summary:
The An Garda Siochana (Irish National Police) first established an ASU on 9 September 1997. Aircraft and helicopters are operated by the Air Corps on behalf of the Garda.

Key Dates:
9 September 1997		Police Air Support Unit established.
1971		Naval aviation unit named Soevaernets Flyvetjaeneste.

Current Status:
The Police air support unit is used primarily for law-enforcement, patrol and search missions.

Future Plans:
Police air support operations will become a civilian contracted-out service.

National Insignia:

Fin Flash
The aircraft operate in semi-civilian markings, with the national flag carried as a fin flash, GARDA service titles, and Air Corps serial numbers.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Irish police helicopters use the same serialling system as the air force - a unique three figure number for each airframe.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Eurocopter EC.135T	2	2	Policing	Germany
Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Defender 4000	1	1	Policing	UK

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Aerospatiale AS.355N Squirrel	1	1997	2007	France
Eurocopter EC.135T	2	2002	current	Germany
Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Defender 4000	1	1997	current	UK

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service - none known.

Main Headquarters:
To be added.

Current Organisational Structure:
All aircraft and helicopters are based at the IAC base at Baldonnel.

Current Order of Battle:

Squadron	Type	Base
1 Operations Wing
106 Squadron	BN.2T, EC.135	Baldonnel

Historical Orders of Battle:
Not applicable.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
All helicopters and aircraft are operated from Baldonnel.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Not applicable.

Books:

To be added

Magazines:

None known.

Websites:

Official Garda Air Support Unit webpage

wikipedia: Garda Air Support Unit

Garda Air Support Unit

airliners.net

Irish Air Pics