Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:23. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence the maximum number of years in service for a Defence Forces Air Corps aircraft before it should be replaced. [5624/14]
View answerThursday, 6 February 2014
Questions (23)
Written answers
I am advised that there are a total of 27 aircraft operating from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Of this total, 3 aircraft are operated by the Air Corps for An Garda Síochána related activities; namely two EC 135 Helicopters and 1 Fixed Wing Defender 4000 aircraft. The remaining 24 aircraft, 16 Fixed Wing and 8 Rotary, are available to the Air Corps. The sixteen Fixed Wing aircraft are made up of the Gulfstream IV, Learjet 45, 2 CASA Maritime Patrol aircraft, 5 Cessna aircraft and 7 Pilatus PC9 aircraft, used in the main for pilot training. The rotary fleet is made up of 6 AW 139 and 2 EC 135 helicopters, one of which is currently out of operational use and is undergoing repairs.
The Air Corps operate a maintenance plan which endeavours to ensure that the maximum number of operational flying hours is available from aircraft when most needed. The maintenance of the Air Corps fleet falls into three broad categories: scheduled, unscheduled and routine/daily. The use of Power by the Hour/Performance Based maintenance contracts assists the Air Corps in keeping downtime of aircraft to the minimum.
The issue of withdrawing an aircraft from operational service is a matter primarily for the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps. In recent years, aircraft such as the Gazelle, Dauphin and Alouette helicopters and the Marchetti and Beechcraft Fixed Wing aircraft have been taken out of operational service following the recommendations of the GOC Air Corps. These aircraft were subsequently disposed of by the Department by tender competition.
The question of proceeding with any replacement programme will be considered in tandem with the new White Paper on Defence, the overall equipment requirements of the Defence Forces generally and the funding envelope available in the coming years. The provision for the Air Corps in 2014 mainly relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the Air Corps fleet fully operational with specific maintenance work being carried out on the CASA Maritime Patrol Aircraft related to the overhaul of engines on the aircraft.
Question No. 24 answered with Question No. 14.
Question No. 25 answered with Question No. 6.