Interesting articles

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119059003#Comment_119059003

After the EC135 "HARD LANDING" not a crash they switched to the 139 and didnt go back when they got the 135 back. Did the 139 just work better due to the distance it covers?

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119059024#Comment_119059024

It can land in more confined spaces, and as it lacks a tail rotor, much safer on the ground where not everyone is used to working with helis.

roadmaster

They should have rang the French for a lift

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/martin-stranded-in-brussels-after-plane-broke-down-41650659.html

Larbre34

The ground work being laid nicely with drip feeds to the media of these difficulties, in order to purchase a couple of shiny new business jets. They already leased a Citation CJ3 on the back of these incidents.

As always, there are different agendae at play here, but we can say with certainty, that claims of problems getting parts and tech support for a 19 year old LearJet 45, are total bűllshyt.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119066534#Comment_119066534

Apperntly there is a major issue worldwide in getting parts for learjets within there supply chain. Also Learjet closing down has not helped customer service

spark23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119066795#Comment_119066795

Learjet 45's/60/75 will be around for a very long time yet. Learjet 35's still in widespread commercial service. Problems can arise for various issues as in lack of foresight in ordering spares etc. Easily 20 years plus left in IRL258. HS125's are still in service on many continents

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119068843#Comment_119068843

So are you saying this whole issue came about due to it being as simple as someone not ordering parts in time?

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119068995#Comment_119068995

Problems arise when certain orders must go to higher authority for cost approval. Each costly part or scheduled maintenance could be weighed up against the overall plan for the aircraft's lifespan in service. As a rule the DoD/DF is never in favour of paying for maintenance or repair of an aircraft if it is in excess of it's notional value. The notional value doesn't always reflect the market value, as we found with the Dauphin and the G4.

A civil operator, on the other hand will weigh up operating costs against replacement budget.

There is no "someone" to blame here. It's an organisational issue.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119069245#Comment_119069245

I presume thats no uniqe to the Irish Military and its an issue other militarys have around the world

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119070272#Comment_119070272

Presumably yes, but other Militaries tend not to have a single example of a type. They can take aircraft out of service, rationalise or replace operations with another type, or scavenge parts.

We've seen the consequences of our own policy with both the G IV and now the Lear.

I think myself, now that we have the new CASAs due (not primarily a passenger plane, I know) that the MATS and all other personnel transportation could be reliably provided by 2 x PC-24 for domestic and Trans-European service and then either a modular A32x or C-130J, as we've previously discussed. I would be wet leasing an A32x FROM Aer Lingus to guarantee reliability and remove the issue of scarce parts or technical capacity.

It's important to provide a reliable MATS, but also to be shown to be responsible in the climate change aspect, so I think commercial services would probably be suitable for 90% of air travel beyond Europe. In the minority of instances where it isn't practical, charter services are plentiful.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119070660#Comment_119070660

PC24 doesn't have the legs for transatlantic. With a normal full load you'll end up just short of Nufie.

PC-24 | The Super Versatile Jet | Pilatus Aircraft Ltd (pilatus-aircraft.com)

Larbre34

In my post I said domestic and trans-European service only for the PC-24 and commercial and charters for travel beyond Europe. I'm aware of their range.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119071244#Comment_119071244

We need something with transatlantic range, and at least 14 Pax, otherwise it wouldn't be a useful update from the Lear.

Remember this aircraft may also be called upon to go further afield. During the evacuation of Kabul for example, it ended up going to the UAE, to assist in repatriation.

Commercial charters are not an option for something like this. We don't know where we may need to send an aircraft to repatriate our citizens. Having the legs to cross the Atlantic would be a minimum requirement, at least.

Larbre34

Depends what the view is on replacing the Lear.

The Gulfstream was never replaced. If they are going to at least go back to the fleet they had a decade ago, then something like a Falcon 900LX with a PC-24 or two, would do the job nicely.

But I suspect a more flexible fleet may be considered, and that's where something like a modular interior A321XLR neo would solve many needs.

Dohvolle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119071672#Comment_119071672

Boris arrived in Norn Iron today in a nice A321. Leased though.

Larbre34

Yeah, it was the RAF wet lease from Titan Airways that I had in my head. Imagine one of these in a nice tricolour livery, 12 2x2 seats for Principals, 120 2x3 seats for UN mission deployment, government staff or civilian repatriation etc and the balance vacant space behind a bulkhead for optional railed fit-out as needed, air ambulance or light freight etc

It would be a great asset to the State.

sparky42

Interesting article in the IT today (though I can never get the quote tag to work when copying and pasting):

Not long ago at a dinner party in Helsinki, a visiting senior US official asked her hosts what they would do if “little green men” crossed over their 1,300km border with Russia into Finland.

The answer from the senior official seated opposite was simple, abrupt and classic Finnish: “Why, we’d shoot them.”

The last time war came to Ireland, some people worked hard to preserve our reputation as the land of 100,000 welcomes – even for unwanted visitors. When the hapless Nazi spy Hermann Görtz parachuted into Ireland in 1940 and was taken in by Iseult Gonne, she, aided by her mother, Maud, bought him new suits in Switzers.

That department store is long-gone but the old wartime question is back: what would Ireland do if... That question followed me on a 9,000km journey around Europe this month: from the eerie, deserted Finnish-Russian border to the chandeliered splendour of Vienna’s chancellery and the Stockholm grave of Olof Palme, the former Swedish prime minister and leading Nato critic.

Finland and Sweden have decided that Russia’s February 24th invasion of Ukraine has changed everything. Old certainties of military neutrality and non-alignment, they agree, are no longer the best guarantees to secure their security, population and interests. By bringing the entire Baltic region under the alliance’s defence umbrella, they hope to preserve the peace.

In Austria, I encountered a very different consensus: military neutrality – hard won and easily lost – may, in this growing crisis, be more important than ever. But, even in Vienna, non-alignment is something to be defended with investment in a strong army and defence capabilities.

Dublin needs to triple its defence spend and abolish anachronistic military command structures dating from the Civil War era

No one in Helsinki, Stockholm or Vienna has unsolicited advice for Ireland. Like themselves, they know that the Irish have their own, complicated history and will their make decisions on their security based on their own needs. But what are those needs and what action is required, given we are already grappling with the consequences of conflict – inflation, recession, displacement?

• Finland and Sweden poised to apply for Nato membership this week
• Finland and Sweden starting Nato move from very different places

Military expenditure

Our EU neighbours are reacting but when they ask about Ireland’s plan to defend itself, Irish officials give them defeated shrugs. One close follower of our defence matters, and a friend of Ireland, is Lieut Gen Esa Pulkkinen. He is director general of defence policy at Finland’s ministry of defence and was invited to be part of the Irish defence review. In his Helsinki ministry, he said that, at a minimum, Dublin needs to triple its defence spend and abolish anachronistic military command structures dating from the Civil War era.

Looking on from Sweden, the Svenska Dagbladet daily told its readers that Ireland’s most notable response to Kremlin aggression to date was the truck backed into the Russian embassy. In Vienna, puzzled officials wanted to know if Ireland was really dependent on its fisherman to defend its coastline – and crucial undersea cables – from Russian visitors.

Back in Helsinki, the defence ministry cyber defence unit was well aware of the Russian hack of the Irish health system network and wondered if we were better prepared for cyberattack on our electricity grid.

Looking in from the outside, the most interesting aspect of Ireland’s response to the new, chilly reality are the psychological elements, mixing narcissism with an inferiority complex. If we need help, won’t our Nato neighbours come to our aid? But, sure, who would be interested in attacking us?

There is a remarkable emotional disconnect between Irish pride in its achievements – a peaceful society, good education system, an export-driven economy powered by tech and pharma multinationals – and the readiness to defend these achievements and the prosperity they bring.

Relying on UK

As one senior Finnish official asked, “Please explain to me why Ireland is celebrating a centenary of its independence from the UK, yet, to defend that sovereignty, relies almost entirely on the UK?”

While others in Europe make painful changes to maintain their status quo, Ireland’s security debate struggles to get off the ground. It remains hobbled by widespread confusion between military neutrality and passive pacifism. Some even hold up with pride our defence spend – the lowest in the EU – like cloves of garlic to ward off Nato vampires.

“Please explain to me why Ireland is celebrating a centenary of its independence from the UK, yet, to defend that sovereignty, relies almost entirely on the UK?"

No one expects Ireland to join that alliance, given that our support for nuclear non-proliferation makes us incompatible with Nato. Ireland needs to find its own path: investing in European security and defence measures. Boosting the size of the army might help bring back home some of the pride we have in our peacekeeping troops abroad.

On foot of February’s defence commission report, plans are under way to boost Irish military spending, in particular a new radar system. But once we can see threats approaching, what then? Even 21 years after Joe Jacobs’s car crash radio interview about iodine tablets, scorn is no protection against the growing threats we face. Touring some of Europe’s non-aligned capitals, past and present, it is clear that the burden of proof is shifting and Ireland needs to shift too.

Those who want to spend more so Ireland can defend itself are not warmongers; those in Ireland who oppose investment in defence are peace squanderers.

It should set alarm bells ringing when even Sweden realises that old traditions are no longer enough for a safe future. The Swedes have decided to grow up, now it is our turn.

Anyone who views defence like tap water – a public service that should be available at no cost, on demand, at point of use – needs to explain how exactly, their do-nothing emergency plans will work. What, they should tell us, will Ireland will do, if..

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/derek-scally-what-could-ireland-do-if-faced-by-external-threat-of-war-1.4881129

Topgear on Dave

An interesting little tale here of a Russian agent caught by the Dutch, who had spent a few years in Dublin.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/russian-spy-studied-at-trinity-college-dublin-for-four-years-before-trying-to-infiltrate-international-criminal-court-41761441.html

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119213975#Comment_119213975

When they say Irish Security Services i wonder do they mean Garda C&S or Defence Forces G2 or maybe both

roadmaster

Are we going to have another ERU V ARW debate in the media

On a side note waterfordd whispers had a very funny take on this today

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/taoiseach-aiming-make-trip-ukraine-27295434

ancientmariner

Whatever A/C we need, we must avoid selecting almost big enough or just short on range. I'm sure the Air Corps will decide on a suitable transport compatible with their runway. Our track record in keeping assets operable is inglorious when you consider the demands we hear for tracking aerial intruders and not having Mil Primary or secondary radars. We had the lot on P31 in 1986, plus a full flight deck with workshop and overhead X/Y cranes. The Services for some reason killed the capability off with NOT a whimper from those responsible for the defence of the State. There is often a clash between operational needs and seemingly budgetary plus technical convenience.

roadmaster

An Uber may need to be sent to Mali

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/06/24/doubts-arise-about-future-role-of-defence-forces-in-troubled-mali-mission/

roadmaster

Well if SAR and HEMS are not military issues i am pretty sure helping people get on there hoildays is not

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0628/1307300-dublin-airport-army/

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119262899#Comment_119262899

It isn’t, but somehow the Minister that wants the Barracks has managed to complain enough for it. Want to bet that DAA or Transport won’t be paying anything extra for this?

sparky42

The Dutch OPV Zeeland had a fire last night while in drydock, wonder how bad the full damage is?

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Brand-aan-boord-Zeeland-040722.html

Dohvolle

Electrical fires spreading to this level is concerning. Given there were plans to retire the type and sell/donate them to other users, having to re-cable the entire ship may not make it worthwhile for this one.

roadmaster

The ERU member protecting Mr Martin looking like s henchman out of a Liam Nelason movie

I wish we had that type of guard on normal patrol in the town near where i live

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0706/1308666-micheal-martin-ukraine/

Dohvolle

Maybe you do and you haven't realised it. They don't always wear badges advertising their identity.

roadmaster

Looks like the ARW made the trip as well if you look at the Sky news Photos

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-news-live-lysychansk-donetsk-putin-12541713

jonnybigwallet

Are the blokes in GREEN ARW? WHAT ABOUT THE GUY IN COMBAT GEAR AND MACHINE GUN ETC?