Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2008
1378 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions an Air Corps helicopter has been used in 2007 and to date in 2008; the person by whom it was used; the reason it was deployed; the costs of use on each occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30426/08]
View answerThe Air Corps helicopter fleet comprises two light utility EC135 helicopters and five utility AW139 helicopters, with one further AW139 scheduled for delivery by the end of 2008. The Alouette helicopters were withdrawn from Air Corps service in September 2007.
The helicopters are operated by the Air Corps in a general purpose military operational and training role. Primary taskings include security, aid to the civil power, military exercises, infantry interoperability training and limited troop transport. They are also used to perform air ambulance, inland Search and Rescue, aid to the civil authorities, community support and VIP transport tasks.
The following table sets out details of deployment of Air Corps helicopters in 2007 and to date in 2008:
|
Tasking |
Alouette |
AW139 |
EC135 |
|||
|
No. of Missions |
Flying Time (hours) |
No. of Missions |
Flying time (hours) |
No. of Missions |
Flying time (hours) |
|
|
Military Support |
31 |
74 |
380 |
765 |
172 |
314 |
|
Training |
65 |
66 |
317 |
471 |
1,034 |
1,194.5 |
|
Community Support/Public Relations |
16 |
22 |
44 |
83.5 |
23 |
49.5 |
|
Air Ambulance |
1 |
1 |
31 |
97 |
28 |
70 |
|
Aid to the Civil Power |
11 |
17.7 |
7 |
8 |
||
|
Aid to the Civil Authority |
11 |
30 |
||||
|
Assistance to Gov. Depts. |
4 |
16 |
5 |
19 |
||
|
Maritime Patrol |
1 |
3.5 |
7 |
19 |
||
|
Search & Rescue |
6 |
18 |
2 |
5.8 |
2 |
3.5 |
With regard to the tasking of Air Corps helicopters in the VIP transport role, the following schedule sets out the details of all Ministerial use of Air Corps helicopters in 2007 and to date in 2008, including the date of each trip, the helicopter type tasked, the duration of each flight and the persons carried. Each trip was in the conduct of official engagements and had the prior approval of An Taoiseach.
The hourly cost of each helicopter type is set out in the following table.
|
Helicopter Type |
Average Direct Cost Per Hour |
Average Total Cost Per Hour |
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Alouette III |
1,100 |
1,700 |
|
EC135 |
760 |
— |
|
AW139 |
1,400 |
— |
The direct hourly cost reflects the costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown, including maintenance, fuel and support services. The total hourly cost reflects the direct cost, plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, i.e. depreciation and personnel costs. A total hourly cost for the EC135 and the AW139 is not yet available.
|
Date |
Aircraft |
Ministerial Time On Board |
Minister |
|
25 Jan 07 |
EC135 |
110 |
Justice (Michael McDowell) |
|
2 Feb 07 |
Alouette |
120 |
Justice (Michael McDowell) |
|
2 Feb 07 |
EC135 |
35 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
16 Feb 07 |
EC135 |
45 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
1 Mar 07 |
EC135 |
110 |
Environment (Dick Roche) & Agriculture (Stage 1 only) (Mary Coughlan) |
|
30 Mar 07 |
EC135 |
150 |
Environment (Dick Roche) |
|
5 Apr 07 |
EC135 |
80 |
Arts, Sport & Tourism (John O’Donoghue) |
|
19 Apr 07 |
EC135 |
135 |
Health (Mary Harney) |
|
23 Apr 07 |
EC135 |
70 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
26 Apr 07 |
EC135 |
100 |
Justice (Michael McDowell) |
|
27 April 07 |
EC135 |
95 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
16 May 07 |
EC135 |
90 |
Transport (Martin Cullen) |
|
3 July 07 |
AW139 |
80 |
Agriculture (Mary Coughlan) |
|
4 July 07 |
AW139 |
90 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
9 July 07 |
AW139 |
90 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
17 July 07 |
AW139 |
80 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
6 Sep 07 |
EC135 |
130 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
13 Sep 07 |
AW139 |
140 |
Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív) + MOS Health (Pat the Cope Gallagher) |
|
25 Sep 07 |
AW139 |
60 |
Agriculture (Mary Coughlan) |
|
27 Sep 07 |
AW139 |
80 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
2 Nov 07 |
AW139 |
100 |
Transport (Noel Dempsey & MOS Jimmy Devins) |
|
16 Nov 07 |
AW139 |
80 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
17 Dec 07 |
AW139 |
60 |
Health (Mary Harney) |
|
17 Dec 07 |
AW139 |
45 |
Justice (Brian Lenihan) |
|
31 Jan 08 |
EC135 |
80 |
Justice (Brian Lenihan) |
|
1 Feb 08 |
AW139 |
90 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
8 Feb 08 |
AW139 |
40 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
23 Mar 08 |
EC135 |
100 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
25 Mar 08 |
EC135 |
60 |
Education (Mary Hanafin) |
|
26 Mar 08 |
EC135 |
120 |
Education (Mary Hanafin) |
|
4 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
30 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
11 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
100 |
Taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) |
|
11 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
45 |
Health (Mary Harney) |
|
14 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
50 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
9 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
55 |
Health (Mary Harney) |
|
17 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
30 |
Agriculture (Mary Coughlan) |
|
18 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
70 |
Agriculture (Mary Coughlan) |
|
29 Apr 08 |
EC135 |
20 |
Justice (Brian Lenihan) |
|
1 May 08 |
AW139 |
205 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
1 May 08 |
AW139 |
60 |
Justice (Brian Lenihan) |
|
30 May 08 |
AW139 |
100 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
29 May 08 |
EC135 |
120 |
Justice (Dermot Ahern) |
|
30 May 08 |
AW139 |
90 |
Health (Mary Harney) |
|
10 Jun 08 |
EC135 |
70 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
19 Jun 08 |
EC135 |
100 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
15 Aug 08 |
AW139 |
80 |
Taoiseach (Brian Cowen) |
|
26 Aug 08 |
AW139 |
100 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
5 Sep 08 |
AW139 |
55 |
Arts, Sport & Tourism (Martin Cullen) |
|
10 Sep 08 |
EC135 |
40 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
12 Sep 08 |
EC135 |
80 |
Defence (Willie O’Dea) |
|
13 Sep 08 |
AW139 |
60 |
Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan) |
|
16 Sep 08 |
AW139 |
50 |
Taoiseach (Brian Cowen ) + Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan) |
