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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1988

Vol. 379 No. 5

Written Answers. - Helicopter Companies.

57.

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will give details of the helicopter companies based in Ireland who hold a licence from his Department with class C operating authorisation; the special conditions, if any, attached to such licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Irish companies currently holding Class C authorisations issued by my Department to carry out non-scheduled helicopter operations are: Irish Helicopters Ltd., Westpoint Hangar, Dublin Airport; Celtic Helicopters Ltd., Block C, Dublin Airport; Helicopter Hire Ltd., Mountcharles, County Donegal.

The standard conditions attaching to a Class C authorisation are as follows:—

(1) The non-scheduled service(s), as described in the authorisation, may not be extended or amended, except with my prior approval.

(2) The service(s) shall be carried out with the aircraft listed and with no other aircraft.

(3) The provisions of the Air Navigation and Transport Acts, 1936 to 1986, and of all Orders, Regulations and Directions made or issued thereunder shall be complied with in so far as such provisions are applicable.

(4) No change shall be made, without my prior approval—(a) in the personnel of the board of directors or the ownership of the company holding the authorisation; or (b) in the persons who hold shares in the company or in the size of their shareholding.

(5) The holder shall enter into a special contract with every passenger to be carried under the authorisation or with a person acting on behalf of such passenger, for the increase to not less than the Irish Pound equivalent of SDR100,000 exclusive of costs, of the limit of his liability as a carrier under the Warsaw Convention of 1929, as amended by the Hague Convention of 1955.

(6) No operations may be undertaken between Ireland and external points, served on a scheduled basis by other Irish carriers, without my prior permission. In this connection, the word "points" means "airports" except where two or more airports serve the same town or city when it is to be construed as the town or city in question.

(7) The holder shall, on request, furnish to me any information or returns required by me as to the business carried on and flights made in any period specified.

(8) The authorisation is non-transferable.

(9) In the event of the holder breaching the terms and conditions of the authorisation, I reserve the right to amend or revoke it without notice.

In the case of Celtic Helicopters Ltd. and Helicopter Hire Ltd., the following additional conditions have been imposed: (1) Flights must be operated under Visual Flight Rules (VFR); (2) single engined helicopters with a gross weight of less than 5,000 pounds may only be used; (3) the holder is not permitted to perform offshore or lighthouse servicing operations.

I have indicated recently to Celtic Helicopters Ltd. that, subject to the company satisfying my Department on certain financial, technical and safety requirements, I would be prepared to remove these additional conditions from their authorisation.

My general policy in relation to helicopter licensing is to ensure the safe and orderly development of helicopter services to ensure that the needs of this sector of the air transport market are met.

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