Transport Aircraft

Per minister in Dail Committee it seems. No better source than that.

Hey, is it any different from the media calling any naval ship a “battleship” or any vehicle a “tank”…

Everyone in the navy is an officer..

In the early 90s a fishing boat sank outside Howth harbour one night drowning , i think 2 fishermen. For whatever reason, no night qualified pilots or similar, nothing could be sent from baldonnel. Instead a Wessex had to come from RAF Valley . It turned out afterwards, that when the RAF were ordering their last batch of Sea King HAR 3s in the late 80s we were invited to tack on a small order, say 3/4 aircraft . as usual, we didnt bother. Why would we , defense procurement in this country is a complete joke

I guess it depends on the intended role. It isn't always pure troop transport.

Careful, some Government departments might be listening...

I see the Defence Cion Implementation Report has delivery of the C295 transport aircraft in 2025.

The fact its on the order books at all is a miracle. Best thing is as soon as it arrives we'll have pilots ready to fly it.

Maintenance issues with government jets might actually be a good thing. They're not being used frivolously and it highlights the consequences of underfunding and poor management, that doesn't retain quality engineers, to the people who sign the cheques.

Is the main argument not that they need a private jet to go at a moments notice and when airlines cant?

From the times article. The successful bidder will have to provide use of the jets at four day’s notice.

What happens if our leaders have an emergency meeting in EU HQ and the contractor says we will be with you in 3 days As per the tender

They would travel commercial scheduled, or use an Air Corps aircraft.

The whole point of this contract, again if you read it, is supplementary.

Besides, while this contract is asking for 3 days notice, many of these VIP and Government charters will, as part of their business model, offer 24 Hours.

Thats not the way it works. Larger assets have to fit in with the strategic plan for what will become the Air Force.

As of now, we have no pilots and crew to train on a 390, no tasks for them to undertake and nowhere to hangar it. Other than that, fine idea!

Besides which, I don't believe that any European air forces should be buying Brazilian aircraft ahead of European or allied offerings. Irrespective of Lula da Silva's return to power, it seems that Brazil is determined to progress a deeper than economic relationship with it's BRICS associates, Russia, China, India and South Africa, all of whom have ignored, tolerated or even facilitated Russia's own invasion of Ukraine.

We simply should not be paying them for anything.

Several transport aircraft arriving into casement this morning - extremely loud and low over Kilnamanagh! Wonder if this is to remove stuff after Biden visit.

Yeah it’s C17s lifting out the hardware.