Defence Forces Property.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2005

Wednesday, 9 March 2005

Ceisteanna (286)

Pat Breen

Ceist:

327 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Defence, further to Parliamentary Question No. 374 of 28 October 2004 and the Snow report, the way in which he justifies the assertion therein that the associated current safety policy at Casement Aerodrome reflects best international practice in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommendations (details supplied); the size of the respective RESAs at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8259/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

A runway end safety area, RESA, is defined as "an area symmetrical about the extended runway centreline and adjacent to the end of the strip primarily intended to reduce the risk of damage to an aeroplane undershooting or overshooting the runway". RESAs are contained completely within the airfield boundary and are referred to in International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, annex 14, "Aerodromes".

Red safety zones, or public safety zones, are not an ICAO requirement. However, the practice of using such zones obtains in other countries and, in this regard, the Department has followed the United Kingdom model. The Snow report, 1999, recommended the continued use of safety zones at Casement Aerodrome. Such similar public safety areas are in place at civil airports. At Casement Aerodrome the RESAs lie within the red safety zones, which are, approximately, 300 m to 700 m wide and 1370 m long.