Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2021
222. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence the reason the Aer Corps Casa CN 235 aircraft is sent to Spain for inspections; if it relates to poor staffing levels in Casement Aerodrome; the cost of such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56654/21]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
I am advised by the military authorities that the Air Corps operate a maintenance plan which endeavors to ensure that the maximum number of operational flying hours is available from the current aircraft fleet when most needed. The maintenance of the Air Corps fleet falls into three broad categories: scheduled, unscheduled and routine/daily. The use of performance based maintenance contracts with original equipment manufacturers assists the Air Corps in keeping downtime of aircraft to the minimum and this is in line with international best practice.
It is currently the case that various aspects of aircraft maintenance are out-sourced by the Air Corps because the cost of in-house provision of such niche expertise and the specialist equipment required to certify airframes would be prohibitively expensive and not cost effective in the context of the number of airframes operated by the Air Corps.In relation to the CASA CN 235 aircraft, I am advised by the military authorities that the two aircraft are routinely dispatched to the original equipment manufacturer Airbus under a maintenance contractual arrangement which is in place. The maintenance is at 2,400 flight hour interval checks, commonly referred to as ‘C’ checks which usually occur at intervals of 2.5 to 3 years and take place at the Airbus manufacturing facility in Spain. This has been the practice since the aircraft were introduced into operational service in 1994 and is not linked to technical staffing levels. As the fleet size is 2 aircraft it would be inefficient to provide resources to conduct this specific type of maintenance in Casement Aerodrome given the relevant infrequent interval. All other flight hour and calendar interval maintenance inputs are conducted at Casement Aerodrome by Air Corps technical personnel. Given the age of these aircraft, the cost of these maintenance inspections is around €1M per maintenance visit, but largely depends on the work scope undertaken during inspection.
I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available so that they can fulfil the roles assigned to them by Government.
