Runway at Baldonnel damaged by vandals

IrishB.ie

The Defence Forces has confirmed that one of the runways at Baldonnel Airport has been vandalised.
A number of pock marks were discovered on the runway during a routine inspection this morning.
It is understood the runway was damaged overnight and is closed pending an investigation.
Flight schedules have not been affected and the other runway remains open.
Gardaí and the Military Police are investigating the incident.
A Defence Forces spokesman said a full security review is under way at the aerodrome.

Here

The (low) mentality of some people never ceases to amaze me.

ANXIOUS

Only in ireland, major lapse in security.

Tea drinker

hard to believe they were out there with jackhammers, it must have been done fairly quiet..... did they use some sort of acid on it?

So who would do that? Anti war or AQ sympathisers?

Irish Fire

Maybe they thought they'd go one better than Martin and gig up the runway instead of the greens

Blue Punto

IrishB.ie wrote: »

The Defence Forces has confirmed that one of the runways at Baldonnel Airport has been vandalised.
A number of pock marks were discovered on the runway during a routine inspection this morning.
It is understood the runway was damaged overnight and is closed pending an investigation.
Flight schedules have not been affected and the other runway remains open.
Gardaí and the Military Police are investigating the incident.
A Defence Forces spokesman said a full security review is under way at the aerodrome.

Here

The (low) mentality of some people never ceases to amaze me.

I got over my amazment of how thick some people are along time ago
Nothing suprises me these days

expectationlost

here's your "reason"?

It is believed that the Queen will land at Baldonnel airbase

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/security-to-make-history-too-2567704.html

David086

They only have there self to blame, it's an army airfield shouldn't it be the most secured?

kona

I hate people like this, probably some retarded socialist who organised it all from his ipad :rolleyes:

imfml

Runways are stressed to take massive weights, it must have been some job to move all that equipment into and out of a secure area during the night, and get the job done quietly.

Some amount of effort, if the Queen was the reason, hope it's not a sign of things to come in the next few weeks.

lord lucan

My first instinct when i read the story was that it was the result of the weather. There was a pretty big thunderstorm that passed through yesterday afternoon with some very heavy hail. I don't know the condition of the runway at Baldonnel and i'm probably way off!:o

Poly

lord lucan wrote: »

My first instinct when i read the story was that it was the result of the weather. There was a pretty big thunderstorm that passed through yesterday afternoon with some very heavy hail. I don't know the condition of the runway at Baldonnel and i'm probably way off!:o

I was in citywest yesterday and there was a few forks, but could this damage a runway?

Seems pretty strange that vandals could break into a military base unnoticed. I presume there would be live ammunition on site too?

Poly

imfml wrote: »

Runways are stressed to take massive weights, it must have been some job to move all that equipment into and out of a secure area during the night, and get the job done quietly.

You're right, the equipment and effort needed to break up concrete is hardly at the disposal of vandals, let alone do it quietly in the middle of the night.

I've a feeling there is some a$$ covering going on here. Maybe someone was playing with machine guns?

Irish Fire

kona wrote: »

I hate people like this, probably some retarded socialist who organised it all from his ipad :rolleyes:

Might not even be his own iPad

Steyr

Thats a HUGE lapse in Security, heads had better role, Baldonnel is a 24/7 Operation afaik.

jimbis

Poly wrote: »

I was in citywest yesterday and there was a few forks, but could this damage a runway?

Seems pretty strange that vandals could break into a military base unnoticed. I presume there would be live ammunition on site too?

I seen quiet a few forks myself and would seem like a better explanation as too what happened. Unless they know more than we do and arent telling us.


Heres a link to a story on lightening damaging a runway.
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/35447-lightning-damages-subang-airport-runway-flights-disrupted

Oscar Bravo

It wasnt the only vandlaism done last night(if thats what happened).From Irish Rail.ie
Travel Alert Sunday 3rd April: Delays of approx 60mins to Cork, Limerick and Kerry services to and from Heuston.

This is due to a major act of vandalism, which has seriously damaged the signalling system.

Please check our travel alert on irishrail.ie for updates throughout the day.

Reg'stoy

Steyr wrote: »

Thats a HUGE lapse in Security, heads had better role, Baldonnel is a 24/7 Operation afaik.

So how exactly are they meant to keep what must be a huge fenceline secure, bit over the top to want to see some poor private soldier lose his job.

Get real I've driven by it and there is no way unless you built a ten foot high fence around it are you going to keep someone who wanted to get in out.

There's no pictures so there's no way of knowing what caused the damage, a couple of idiots with sledge hammers might have caused it. I can't see some general losing his job as sh*t rolls downhill so you'll probably get your wish and a couple of soldiers will be hung out to dry.

Steyr

Poly wrote: »

Maybe someone was playing with machine guns?

Not on an active runway, thats just stupid. Thats why they have ranges and FIBUA Ranges.

Steyr

Reg'stoy wrote: »

So how exactly are they meant to keep what must be a huge fenceline secure, bit over the top to want to see some poor private soldier lose his job.

Get real I've driven by it and there is no way unless you built a ten foot high fence around it are you going to keep someone who wanted to get in out.

If they can secure EINN with regular patrols they can secure Bal with regular patrols.

If it was vandalism then yes I stand by the fact that heads should roll, obviously you cant be everywhere but still this should result in security being taken more seriously. I am real.

mikemac

I would have thought the airport would be extremely secure.

Reg'stoy wrote: »

So how exactly are they meant to keep what must be a huge fenceline secure, bit over the top to want to see some poor private soldier lose his job.

Get real I've driven by it and there is no way unless you built a ten foot high fence around it are you going to keep someone who wanted to get in out.

If it takes a ten foot high fence then build it.
And realy if it's a lack of patrols and planning it's the person who organized these who is responsible, not some lowly private. Though those at the bottom usually take the blame

Steyr

But seriously, with all respect here, Lightning strikes/pocks over a 50ft area and only on a Runway?

DUB777

Only in Ireland would you get away with this, its another prime example of what a joke the nation has become.

We build leaking port tunnels that cant take super trucks
We build a national convention center with insufficient sewage system
We sell our oil
We sell our gas
We lock everybody else up for the stupidest things like not paying fines, or having a dog licence
Yet the B@5t@rds who've got the country in the mess its in robbing the tax payer left right and center are still being chauffeur driven around by retired garda.
Sean fitzpatrick is still strolling around/Gannon/Liam Carroll/Paddy & Simon Kelly in their "wives estates" while the tax payer is picking up the tab for them.
We lock joe soap up for growing a couple of plants yet "GARDA" FINBARR HICKEY gets away with growing 70 odd plants.Has vegging, flowering & drying plants:S:S
The M50 took nearly 30 years to complete from one side of a COUNTY to another.
We build a multi million euro peat burning station that doesn't work after a couple of months in action. The workers all get paid while off work:S
We elect a "Taoiseach" who didn't know he needed to open a bank account:S:S
We let that idiot taoiseach appoint a blundering BIFFO as our new taoiseach.
God facking help us if we go nuclear, we'll probably take the whole of europe out of it.

Anyone else care to add to the list?? I'm sure I've missed a few.

Poly

Steyr wrote: »

But seriously, with all respect here, Lightning strikes/pocks over a 50ft area and only on a Runway?

But if you were to go to the trouble of bringing a hammer to vandalise an airfield, surely you would go for the the runway lights, electrical/radar gear and maybe even an aircraft, you wouldn't spend half the night trying to break concrete with a hammer.

Something fishy about this story

DUB777

feelingstressed wrote: »

I would have thought the airport would be extremely secure.



If it takes a ten foot high fence then build it.
And realy if it's a lack of patrols and planning it's the person who organized these who is responsible, not some lowly private. Though those at the bottom usually take the blame

We'd probably make a b@11z of a 10 foot fence if the the government were behind it.

ScouseMouse

Someone must know what happened.

Well?

lord lucan

Steyr wrote: »

But seriously, with all respect here, Lightning strikes/pocks over a 50ft area and only on a Runway?

I haven't seen mention of the total area of damage but this evening they're calling it 'superficial' . I'm actually gonna stick with my weather theory,as Poly says above,if you were going to the trouble of breaking into a secure aerodrome with intent to do damage you'd do more than make a few gouges in the runway. Very strange altogether.

TheAnswer

DUB777 wrote: »

Only in Ireland would you get away with this, its another prime example of what a joke the nation has become.

We build leaking port tunnels that cant take super trucks
We build a national convention center with insufficient sewage system
We sell our oil
We sell our gas
We lock everybody else up for the stupidest things like not paying fines, or having a dog licence
Yet the B@5t@rds who've got the country in the mess its in robbing the tax payer left right and center are still being chauffeur driven around by retired garda.
Sean fitzpatrick is still strolling around/Gannon/Liam Carroll/Paddy & Simon Kelly in their "wives estates" while the tax payer is picking up the tab for them.
We lock joe soap up for growing a couple of plants yet "GARDA" FINBARR HICKEY gets away with growing 70 odd plants.Has vegging, flowering & drying plants:S:S
The M50 took nearly 30 years to complete from one side of a COUNTY to another.
We build a multi million euro peat burning station that doesn't work after a couple of months in action. The workers all get paid while off work:S
We elect a "Taoiseach" who didn't know he needed to open a bank account:S:S
We let that idiot taoiseach appoint a blundering BIFFO as our new taoiseach.
God facking help us if we go nuclear, we'll probably take the whole of europe out of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPIsTKpAoE4

westdub

feelingstressed wrote: »

If it takes a ten foot high fence then build it.
And realy if it's a lack of patrols and planning it's the person who organized these who is responsible, not some lowly private. Though those at the bottom usually take the blame

There is a Fence already surrounding the Airfield and also regular patrols so I seriously doubt that this is a major act of vandalism ,the runways have a tarmac surface and would be easier to damage than concrete ones,and if it was caused by someone who cut their way in you can be sure that it wont happen again

Michael Angelo.

Steyr wrote: »

Thats a HUGE lapse in Security, heads had better role roll, Baldonnel is a 24/7 Operation afaik.

a slip of the tongue is no fault of the mind. This incident is appaling. Hope those responsible are caught.

Also whats with the finger pointing at the air corps or aer corps or what have ya!?..Them lads and ladies are doing a superb job in the face of a country in financial ruin. Air ambulance missions, international missions, search and rescue missions, top cover missions. Give them a break there a great asset. Many folks here would be running to take pictures of them if they heard they were nearby so give them a break!!!! That is all.

Reg'stoy

Steyr wrote: »

If they can secure EINN with regular patrols they can secure Bal with regular patrols.

If it was vandalism then yes I stand by the fact that heads should roll, obviously you cant be everywhere but still this should result in security being taken more seriously. I am real.

I seem to remember an American aircraft been damaged down in Shannon. I for one would not want to run down the members of the Air Corps as I would assume that they are as professional and serious in their security patrols as they are in the roles we would be more familiar with.

I always feel sorry for the guys at the coalface when things like this happen we don't know what/when/how many was involved yet blame is laid at their feet straight away without the full facts been known. I do find it strange that on one hand you would accept that they couldn't be everywhere yet you still want their heads to roll.

I'm sure a big pot of money will be thrown at the problem as with everything in this country we are re-active instead of pro-active. I would be interested in seeing the number of 'incursions' onto Shannon or Dublin airfields compared to the number of people caught in Baldonnel. I would also like to see a comparsion in numbers doing security at the different locations are we talking 10 20 or 30 people patroling Baldonnel at any one time as you are at one of our bigger airports.

I think we should hold off on firing some poor guys who were unlucky enough to be working when some idiots climbed over a fence untill we know more.

I would agree with a previous poster that if they wanted to make a statement they would have broken lights or daubed graffiti on the runway which would then have been visible from the Naas road.

Poly

westdub wrote: »

There is a Fence already surrounding the Airfield and also regular patrols so I seriously doubt that this is a major act of vandalism ,the runways have a tarmac surface and would be easier to damage than concrete ones,and if it was caused by someone who cut their way in you can be sure that it wont happen again

Tarmac? then my guess, this is storm damage.

DennisSabre

Could it be the brits or the yanks be 'testing' us in advance of the visits? On a serious note, assuming that it was not an act of God, this is a disgraceful failure by our defence forces to secure a key military installation. Or is site security farmed out to a private company?

IrishB.ie

lord lucan wrote: »

I haven't seen mention of the total area of damage but this evening they're calling it 'superficial' . I'm actually gonna stick with my weather theory,as Poly says above,if you were going to the trouble of breaking into a secure aerodrome with intent to do damage you'd do more than make a few gouges in the runway. Very strange altogether.

Does anybody know exactly where the damage on 29/11 was? Runway 29 is fairly close to the perimeter and a good distance from any building that might have been occupied at the time.

As for not attacking the runway lights, electrical/radar, as I said earlier, with the mentality of these people, they probably thought they were giant colourful decorations only to be used at christmas.

Poccington

Steyr wrote: »

If they can secure EINN with regular patrols they can secure Bal with regular patrols.

If it was vandalism then yes I stand by the fact that heads should roll, obviously you cant be everywhere but still this should result in security being taken more seriously. I am real.

The track along the perimiter of the Don is nearly 10k in length, I've ran the track on more than one occasion. Not to mention the fencing surrounding it is piss poor.

Now, keeping in mind that there's a hell of a lot more in the Don than runways to keep secure, as well as the fact that the camp itself is large enough, how regular should 10k perimiter patrols be? Along with patrols of the base itself and the other taskings to be carried out by those on guard?

You may be "real" but you have very little in the way of a realistic idea of what you're talking about. Yes, it will result in a review of the security arrangements but realistically, either more money needs to be pumped into the Don's perimeter security in terms of fencing and camera's or more bodies based up there to take up the slack if the Government won't spend money.

TheAnswer

It seems entirely possible that weather played a part here, I live quite close to Baldonnel and I had paint and cement render stripped of part of my gable wall yesterday by the hail storm.

Newbie_2009

This sounds bizarre and is a very embarrassing lapse in security. You would never know it could have be aliens. Maybe mr. coor will have a theory

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Delancey

On the surface at least this is a major security failure and may well be seized upon by those seeking a downgrade of the Air Corps and a reduction in its budget and fleet.

DUB777

TheAnswer wrote: »

DUB777 wrote: »

Only in Ireland would you get away with this, its another prime example of what a joke the nation has become.

We build leaking port tunnels that cant take super trucks
We build a national convention center with insufficient sewage system
We sell our oil
We sell our gas
We lock everybody else up for the stupidest things like not paying fines, or having a dog licence
Yet the B@5t@rds who've got the country in the mess its in robbing the tax payer left right and center are still being chauffeur driven around by retired garda.
Sean fitzpatrick is still strolling around/Gannon/Liam Carroll/Paddy & Simon Kelly in their "wives estates" while the tax payer is picking up the tab for them.
We lock joe soap up for growing a couple of plants yet "GARDA" FINBARR HICKEY gets away with growing 70 odd plants.Has vegging, flowering & drying plants:S:S
The M50 took nearly 30 years to complete from one side of a COUNTY to another.
We build a multi million euro peat burning station that doesn't work after a couple of months in action. The workers all get paid while off work:S
We elect a "Taoiseach" who didn't know he needed to open a bank account:S:S
We let that idiot taoiseach appoint a blundering BIFFO as our new taoiseach.
God facking help us if we go nuclear, we'll probably take the whole of europe out of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPIsTKpAoE4

Calm down??? There's another reason the country is fooked. We Irish take the "calm down"/take it ****in easy approach to everything. It's ok, the problem will still be there in the morning. Lets go have a pint for now.:mad: You wouldn't see this sh1t in any European country on the continent. We are the laughing stock of Europe. 37 years in the EU & we still can't get much right.

*Voting machines another cock-up
"On 6 October 2010, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen said that the 7,000 machines would not be used for voting and would be disposed of.[10] As of October 2010, the total cost of the electronic voting project has reached €54.6 million, including €3 million spent on storing the machines over the previous five years"
We are the jesters of the E.C. Global entertainment.

What will we **** up next??
Give the Brits back the 26 counties when the queen comes over??:eek:

David086

No one's perfect, I'm sure people from other countries have a list as long as yours to say about their country. Everyone makes f**k ups.

mayotom

DUB777 wrote: »

Only in Ireland would you get away with this, its another prime example of what a joke the nation has become.

We build leaking port tunnels that cant take super trucks
We build a national convention center with insufficient sewage system
We sell give away our oil
We sell give away our gas
We lock everybody else up for the stupidest things like not paying fines, or having a dog licence
Yet the B@5t@rds who've got the country in the mess its in robbing the tax payer left right and center are still being chauffeur driven around by retired garda.
.

Fixed it for you

DUB777

mayotom wrote: »

Fixed it for you

Lol, thanks B-)

searescue

Jesus!

Hope Obama's boyos don't find out about this - whatever about a regional airport but a military airport!

Steyr

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Also whats with the finger pointing at the air corps or aer corps or what have ya!?..Them lads and ladies are doing a superb job

Its Air Corps and everybody here knows I champion them alot and have family as Serving members, so no I was not taking a shot at them. Simply like everybody else IF it was vandalism then heads should roll, if you were assigned something in your line of work or whatever you do and you failed to do it are you saying nothing would not happen to you?

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Air ambulance missions, international missions, search and rescue missions, top cover missions.

Everything you have just said here is Aviation related and has nothing to do with someone on Guard Duty. SAR is gone, where have you been ? They can only at best provide a very limited SAR Capability other than that it is Patient Transport.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Give them a break there a great asset.

As I have said I have family in it. But unfortunately are extremely over stretched.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Many folks here would be running to take pictures of them if they heard they were nearby so give them a break!!!!

If you knew anything about me or my postings here you would know if anything IAC related is in the Galway Area I am usually to the first to post about it.

Steyr

Poccington wrote: »

Now, keeping in mind that there's a hell of a lot more in the Don than runways to keep secure, as well as the fact that the camp itself is large enough, how regular should 10k perimiter patrols be? Along with patrols of the base itself and the other taskings to be carried out by those on guard?

I understand that totally and I am unaware of what the Don's Security detail encompasses but perhaps if a Unit is assigned to perimeter duty thay should just be on Perimeter Duty and not pulled for something else.

Surely there is enough Secuirty there to provide for it? Also it might sound mad but I believe there is an RDF Det there? Perhaps utilise them if possible.

Michael Angelo.

Steyr wrote: »

Its Air Corps and everybody here knows I champion them alot and have family as Serving members, so no I was not taking a shot at them. Simply like everybody else IF it was vandalism then heads should roll, if you were assigned something in your line of work or whatever you do and you failed to do it are you saying nothing would not happen to you?






Everything you have just said here is Aviation related and has nothing to do with someone on Guard Duty. SAR is gone, where have you been ? They can only at best provide a very limited SAR Capability other than that it is Patient Transport.


As I have said I have family in it. But unfortunately are extremely over stretched.



If you knew anything about me or my postings here you would know if anything IAC related is in the Galway Area I am usually to the first to post about it.

1. Your speculating.

2. Correct it is aviation related...so is a run way

3. What your family do is their business, and has nothing to do with the topic.

4. I didn't join boards to learn about you or your postings. Do you want a medal?..there are more people here than you ya know!!!!!!

and finally....

SAR gone?...It came back yesterday so just for one day.. "The CASA "Charlie 252" has landed back at Baldonnel post a 5 hour search along the East coast for 2 Skerries fishermen who failed to return from a fishing trip on Friday night. The Air Corps remain on standby to the Coastguard." quote from the Air Corps facebook page at the time of typing 10 hours ago.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-Air-Corps/148942718466693

That is all.

Steyr

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

The Air Corps remain on standby to the Coastguard.

There is your hint, They provide Top Cover if possible. but in the real sense of SAR they can not do it.

I recall a post on another forum that a CASA was ok for a few flypasts at Bray yet was unable to provide top cover for an S61N of the IRCG the night before 200Nautical miles out off the West Coast.

It had nothing to do with the economic situation the Aircraft and the crew existed. The UK ended up providing a Reims Cessna F406

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

2. Correct it is aviation related...so is a run way

So secure it.

Michael Angelo.

The Air Corps were not providing top cover to the coast guard yesterday, their post clearly states the word "SEARCHING". What is your problem with that??.

You made a mistake, it's ok to make mistakes even on topics where you may be very knowledgeable. Instead of being condescending towards me in your earlier post please try to be accurate with your information. So I have established SAR is not a thing of the past for the Irish Air Corps. Good to know.


that post again "The CASA "Charlie 252" has landed back at Baldonnel post a 5 hour search along the East coast for 2 Skerries fishermen who failed to return from a fishing trip on Friday night. The Air Corps remain on standby to the Coastguard."


Back on topic, any word on the runway?

Steyr

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

The Air Corps were not providing top cover to the coast guard yesterday

I was making a point.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

their post clearly states the word "SEARCHING". What is your problem with that??.

None, who would have a problem with that.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

So I have established SAR is not a thing of the past for the Irish Air Corps. Good to know.

It is.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

The Air Corps remain on standby to the Coastguard.

Exactly what I just said LIMITED CAPABILITY, very LIMITED. The hint is right there, they CANNOT provide SAR. Just remain on standby. But as we have seen in the past even this was poor with the Coast Guard having to utilise the RAF for Top Cover which is exactly what they are on standby for when it comes to the IRCG.

Michael Angelo.

your posts come across as having a chip on their shoulder with the service provided by the Air Corps. Limited or not they were searching yesterday can you not accept that?.. so search and rescue is not gone???... this is laughable, the air corps claim to be searching but a person on an internet forum knows more......:D:D good night steyr

Steyr

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

your posts come across as having a chip on their shoulder with the service provided by the Air Corps.

No I do not everybody on here knows that bar you it painfully seems. In fact I have championed them for all they do with extremely limited resources.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Limited or not they were searching yesterday can you not accept that?.. so search and rescue is not gone???

I can and do accept that and as any right person would expect that and be proud of it, You do not really understand SAR do you. SAR in the most broadest sense in terms of the IAC is gone. That is a fact.

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

this is laughable, the air corps claim to be searching but a person on an internet forum knows more

You Sir are an Irritant I have never claimed to be in the know but it seems I know a little bit more than you. I will not be replying to anymore of your posts as I can smell someone out to just annoy others by mixed words.