asked the Minister for Defence the number and types of aircraft in service with the Air Corps, and in respect of aircraft on lease, (a) when the lease is due to expire and (b) if there is purchase option and if so, if this will be availed of; the number of aircraft involved in accidents in each of the years 1970 to 1979 inclusive, together with full details of all such accidents and if the aircraft were returned to service; when the older aircraft in service will be withdrawn and the plans to replace them, the number of aircraft on order or under consideration, when each was ordered and the expected delivery dates; the number and types of aircraft demonstrated by the Air Corps in the last five years and when and where such demonstrations took place.
Written Answers. - Air Corps Aircraft.
The information requested is as follows:
(i) Number and types of aircraft in service with the Air Corps:—
|
No. |
Type |
Use |
|
8 |
Alouette III Helicopter |
Search and rescue and security |
|
1 |
Gazelle 342 Helicopter |
Pilot training |
|
7 |
Cessna 172 |
Army co-operation |
|
10 |
Marchetti SF260 |
Basic pilot training |
|
6 |
Fouga Magister CM170 |
Advanced pilot training |
|
3 |
Chipmunk |
Basic pilot training |
|
2 |
Beech King-Air 200 |
Fishery surveillance |
|
1 |
Hawker Siddeley 125/700 |
Transport, etc. |
(ii) There are no aircraft on lease at present.
Two twin-engined Beech King-Air 200 aircraft were leased with a purchase option in 1977 and 1978 respectively for fishery protection purposes and purchased outright in December, 1979. A twin-jet Hawker Siddeley 125/700 aircraft for ministerial transport purposes was ordered in May 1979 and delivered in February 1980. Pending delivery of that aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 125/600 was leased and the lease was terminated on 29 February 1980.
(iii) Aircraft involved in accidents in each of the years 1970 and 1979 inclusive:—
|
Accidents |
Details |
If returned to service |
|
1970 to 1975 |
Nil |
— |
|
1976 |
Helicopter—forced landing at Casement Aerodome |
Yes |
|
1977 |
Nil |
— |
|
1978 |
Cessna 172—Crashed into Shannon Estuary while on survey work for the Forest and Wild Life Service of the Department of Fisheries |
No—airframe used for technical training |
|
1978 |
Marchetti SF260—Pilot training accident at Casement Aerodrome |
No—Airframe used for technical training |
|
1979 |
HS125/600—Overshot runway at Casement Aerodrome |
This aircraft was on lease at the time of accident and was taken away afterwards by the owners—British Aerospace |
|
1979 |
Cessna 172—Heavy nose landing at Gormanston |
Repair being arranged. Aircraft will go back into service. |
(iv) Most of the above aircraft have relatively short service. The Marchetti SF260 are regarded as replacing the Chipmunk aircraft, which are approaching the end of their serviceability. One twin-engined Beech King-Air 200 aircraft was ordered in December 1979 to replace the obsolete, unserviceable Dove aircraft and delivery is expected in May 1980.
(v) It is intended to purchase a replacement for the Cessna aircraft which crashed in 1978—and to have the Cessna which was damaged last repaired. It is also intended to purchase a single-engined helicopter for training, and to lease a large-capacity twin-engined helicopter this year.
Consideration is being given to the purchase of three helicopters for operation in conjunction with two naval patrol vessels of a new design which are also under consideration.
(vi) Aircraft demonstrations by the Air Corps over the past five years were as follows:—
|
Year |
Number of Demonstrations |
Type of Aircraft |
|
1975 |
14 |
Alouette III Helicopter |
|
1976 |
10 |
Alouette III Helicopter |
|
1 |
Fouga Jets |
|
|
1977 |
6 |
Alouette III Helicopter |
|
1 |
Fouga Jets |
|
|
1 |
Cessna |
|
|
1978 |
10 |
Alouette III Helicopter |
|
1 |
Marchetti 260s and Fouga Jets |
|
|
1979 |
6 |
Alouette III Helicopters |
|
3 |
Cessnas and Marchetti 260s |
|
|
1 |
Fouga Jet. |
(vii) A list of the locations and dates referred to at (vi) above is attached.
1975
|
Location |
Type |
Date |
|
(AOPA) Glencairn, Cork |
Air Sea rescue (Helicopter) |
April 1975 |
|
Mullingar (Junior Chamber) |
Helicopter Display |
24 May, 1975 |
|
Kinsale |
Helicopter Display |
25 May, 1975 |
|
Newcastle Dublin |
Helicopter Display |
15 June, 1975 |
|
Tallaght (Dominican Grounds) |
Helicopter Display |
22 June, 1975 |
|
Saggart (St. Marys Gaelic Football Club) |
Helicopter Display |
13 July, 1975 |
|
Stamullen |
Helicopter Display |
20 July, 1975 |
|
Balbriggan |
Helicopter Display |
31 July, 1975 |
|
Abbeyshrule Fly In |
Helicopter Display |
10 August, 1975 |
|
Cloghane, Kerry |
Helicopter Display |
18-22 August, 1975 |
|
All Hallows College, Drumcondra |
Helicopter Display |
24 August, 1975 |
|
Lucan |
Helicopter Display |
31 August, 1975 |
|
Cuan Mhuire, Athy |
Helicopter Display |
14 September, 1975 |
|
Dunmore East Life Boat Exercise |
Helicopter Display |
18 May, 1975 |
|
1976 |
||
|
Cornmarket Wexford |
Air/Sea Rescue (Helicopter) |
17-19 April 1976 |
|
Cootehill |
Helicopter Display |
6 June, 1976 |
|
Rathcoole |
Helicopter Display |
13 June, 1976 |
|
Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow |
Helicopter Display |
18 July, 1976 |
|
Tallaght Festival |
Helicopter Display |
20 June, 1976 |
|
Air Show & Fly In |
||
|
Longford |
Fouga Jets |
8 August 1976 |
|
Abbeyshrule |
||
|
Gortahork |
Helicopter Display |
August 1976 |
|
All Hallows College Drumcondra |
Helicopter Display |
22 August, 1976 |
|
Lucan |
Helicopter Display |
29 August, 1976 |
|
Glenamaddy Aero Club |
Helicopter Display |
12 September, 1976 |
|
Child Guidance Clinic (Rathgar) |
Helicopter Display |
19 September, 1976 |
1977
|
Location |
Type |
Date |
|
Wexford Harbour |
Air/Sea Rescue (Helicopter) |
11 April, 1977 |
|
Bonanza Week, Drogheda |
Fly past Cessna |
14 May, 1977 |
|
National Children's Day Dublin |
Fly Over by Helicopter |
12 June, 1977 |
|
City Quay Community Week |
Helicopter Display |
18 June, 1977 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
Helicopter Demonstration |
3 July, 1977 |
|
Abbeyshrule, Longford |
2 Fouga Jets Fly Past |
7 August, 1977 |
|
All Hallows College, Drumcondra |
Helicopter Display |
28 August, 1977 |
|
Dublin Bay |
Air/Sea Rescue Display (Helicopter) |
4 September, 1977 |
|
Total—8 |
1978
|
Location |
Type |
Date |
|
Moycullen Galway |
Helicopter Display |
20 May, 1978 |
|
Wicklow Regatta |
Air/Sea Rescue (Helicopter) |
July/August, 1978 |
|
Abbeyshrule, Longford |
Marchetti and Cessnas |
13 August, 1978 |
|
National Children's Day O'Connell St., Dublin |
Helicopter |
11 June, 1978 |
|
Sligo Aero Club |
Helicopter |
4 June, 1978 |
|
Irish Water Safety Association |
Helicopter |
23 June, 1978 |
|
Dunmore East Lifeboat Exercise |
Helicopter |
June, 1978 |
|
Arklow Lifeboat Exercise |
Helicopter |
June, 1978 |
|
Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry |
Helicopter |
23 June, 1978 |
|
St. Michaels School Inchicore Dublin |
Helicopter |
23 July, 1978 |
|
All Hallows College, Drumcondra |
Helicopter |
27 August, 1978 |
1979
|
Location |
Type |
Date |
|
Ballycotton Co. Cork |
Helicopter |
30 January, 1979 |
|
Salthill Co. Galway |
Helicopter |
21 April, 1979 |
|
Gormanstown College |
Helicopter |
20 April, 1979 |
|
International Air Display Abbeyshrule |
Cessnas and Marchettis |
18 May, 1979 |
|
Ballyfermot (National Children's Day) |
Helicopter |
10 June, 1979 |
|
Clongowes Wood College Grounds |
Cessna |
8 July, 1979 |
|
Sligo (N.W. Airport Co. Ltd.) |
||
|
Castlebar Fly In '79 |
Siai Marchetti and Helicopter |
5 August, 1979 |
|
Air Spectacular '79 Fairyhouse |
Formation of Fouga Magister |
26 August, 1979 |