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Transport Aircraft

1356748

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    Thats very sad.

    I think the best thing now might be to re-purpose the 235's as light transports when the 295's arrive. With the surveillance equipment removed as roadmaster pointed out, it might work better.

    If the 235's have life left in them after the 295's arrive even its only for a few years it could be used as a wedge to say next up to replace our transport aircraft


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,834 ✭✭✭sparky42


    roadmaster wrote: »
    If the 235's have life left in them after the 295's arrive even its only for a few years it could be used as a wedge to say next up to replace our transport aircraft


    Given their high hours for their type already, I wonder what the service rate would be by that point? Could the AC end up keeping them and due to high repairs/low operational rate have the DOD use them as a reason why the AC shouldn't have transport aircraft?


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    sparky42 wrote: »
    Given their high hours for their type already, I wonder what the service rate would be by that point? Could the AC end up keeping them and due to high repairs/low operational rate have the DOD use them as a reason why the AC shouldn't have transport aircraft?

    They will sell them for 10k each and then someone will give them a run over with a car vac, put a new freshener in the flight deck and sell them for €5m each a la GIV!!! ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    sparky42 wrote: »
    Indeed, however Don Lavery is tweeting today that the DOD has told him that no such aircraft is to be purchased.

    In fairness to Don's good coverage, the message really is that the DoD have not received any Government instruction to explore the option and vary the equipment development plan in response prevailing situations. If it is to happen, its not for the DoD to say, its for Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney and whomever else is in agreement to table it at cabinet at get it moving.

    As Ruairí Quinn famously said when civil servants hummed and hawwed at the Bruton government's instruction to legislate and establish the CAB, "you don't seem to understand, the ****ing decision has been made"


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,165 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    Is there the hangar space to keep the 235s around?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    Is there the hangar space to keep the 235s around?

    If there's not i am sure they could find somewhere in Shannon, Kerry or cork


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,834 ✭✭✭sparky42


    roadmaster wrote: »
    If there's not i am sure they could find somewhere in Shannon, Kerry or cork


    Or alternatively stick the 295's out to Shannon, Kerry or Galway, given as MPA's that would be the primary operational area?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    sparky42 wrote: »
    Or alternatively stick the 295's out to Shannon, Kerry or Galway, given as MPA's that would be the primary operational area?

    Or move all fixed wing assets to Shannon, That would solve the shortage in air traffic control and rescue services and improve availability


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,834 ✭✭✭sparky42


    roadmaster wrote: »
    Or move all fixed wing assets to Shannon, That would solve the shortage in air traffic control and rescue services and improve availability
    And stick the Government Jet in Dublin Airport?


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Ive said that before on these pages, especially if fast jets are ultimately required. Close the Don, move the primary Air Corps station to the Shannon Airport complex and have a small facility for VIP transport and Air Ambulance transfer points etc at either Dublin or even Weston.

    It would make sense for a few reasons to move to Shannon, investment and spending power in the local area, cost of living for AC personnel, strategic location for air coverage, realising the value of the Don location for reinvestment in the DF.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,102 ✭✭✭Psychlops


    Is there the hangar space to keep the 235s around?


    Not a hope, Bal is unfit for purpose. Perhaps just keep them outside like a regular airliner is kept.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    With Aer Lingus talks about leaving Shannon getting some traction , someone in government might actually think about moving the air corps to Shannon


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,060 ✭✭✭jonnybigwallet


    Interesting idea. I think have both is a good idea. Bal is useful for the defence of the capital and support in the glen of immal and the curragh.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,102 ✭✭✭Psychlops


    Interesting idea. I think have both is a good idea. Bal is useful for the defence of the capital and support in the glen of immal and the curragh.


    Defence of the Capital...what are you smoking? The Air Corps could stop a few Cessna Aircraft & nothing more. Jesus.


  • Registered Users Posts: 590 ✭✭✭Leonidas BL


    Psychlops wrote: »
    The Air Corps could stop a few Cessna Aircraft & nothing more..

    Actually they couldn't even do that!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭Heraldoffreeent


    :):):):):):):):):):):):):)
    Interesting idea. I think have both is a good idea. Bal is useful for the defence of the capital and support in the glen of immal and the curragh.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Interesting idea. I think have both is a good idea. Bal is useful for the defence of the capital and support in the glen of immal and the curragh.

    Jesus suffering christ.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,165 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    The last point is worth considering. If the Glen and Curragh are the major training areas, then proximity for air lift or air fires training would make a lot of sense. That said, I'm not sure how much longer it takes to get there from Shannon vice Bal.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,834 ✭✭✭sparky42


    The last point is worth considering. If the Glen and Curragh are the major training areas, then proximity for air lift or air fires training would make a lot of sense. That said, I'm not sure how much longer it takes to get there from Shannon vice Bal.


    Given one of the 139s spends it's time in Athlone why not examine having them base out of the Curragh and Glen as needed? Instead of keeping a base in the Capital with all the costs involved if the rest had moved to Shannon?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,060 ✭✭✭jonnybigwallet


    Looks like a lot of spare slots coming available in Shannon on foot of Aer Lingus cutting services to USA. Rumour has it they are going to close their bases there and in Cork altogether. Government aint going to be too popular with the local citizens!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    Jordan aviation A330 brought Irish troops home yesterday.

    Would there not be a bit of joined up writing in government and they 'suggest' that Aer Lingus operating those transfers after all they have spare aircraft sitting on the ground.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,712 ✭✭✭roundymac


    Its the UN who organise these flights (AFAIA), I do know that there is a problem with EI doing these flights.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    To my knowledge its a mix. The UN organise half and the Dept of Defence put out tenders every so often for charters for the half of the flights they pay for.

    I imagine Aer Lingus could put in a price if they wanted, but they aren't that sort of operator.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    Larbre34 wrote: »
    To my knowledge its a mix. The UN organise half and the Dept of Defence put out tenders every so often for charters for the half of the flights they pay for.

    I imagine Aer Lingus could put in a price if they wanted, but they aren't that sort of operator.

    If I lost 80% of my income I would be any type of operator you want me to be!!!! ;););)


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,529 ✭✭✭roadmaster


    I think a lot airlines will only go in to safe airports as such. There is probably insurance issues as well. In truth we should be trying to pick up an aircraft like that on cheap and convert it for cargo and passengers


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    roadmaster wrote: »
    I think a lot airlines will only go in to safe airports as such. There is probably insurance issues as well. In truth we should be trying to pick up an aircraft like that on cheap and convert it for cargo and passengers

    Simple risk assessment on any new airport. The exact same would have been done for the China run with the Russian overfly rights etc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    If I lost 80% of my income I would be any type of operator you want me to be!!!! ;););)

    I know yeah, but I'd say its probably cheaper to mothball fleet and furlough staff and reduce operations to the still popular routes rather than trying to undercut yellow pack charter specialists for an occasional bit of work with very little margin.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,716 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    The KC390 is a nice aircraft, but the delivery time is crazy and personally I have an aversion to being an early adopter of military technology.

    Ireland would still be better off buying a used C-130 on the European or North American market.

    In other news, apropos of last months conversation, I see a Shamrock 330 went on a UN troop rotation charter yesterday. Good to see it.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,218 ✭✭✭Dohvolle


    Larbre34 wrote: »
    The KC390 is a nice aircraft, but the delivery time is crazy and personally I have an aversion to being an early adopter of military technology.

    Ireland would still be better off buying a used C-130 on the European or North American market.

    In other news, apropos of last months conversation, I see a Shamrock 330 went on a UN troop rotation charter yesterday. Good to see it.

    Agreed on the C130 front, problem is there are no J models readily available. Those that come up, are quickly snapped up by others. Plenty of H going cheap though. Problem is they have a 4 person flight deck, and we don't train flight engineers, and we have no aircraft that require one. Most civvy pilots who trained with this setup retired 10-15 years ago. It's old tech. Fine when you also operate large fleets of 1950s era bombers and tankers, so this crew has somewhere else to go. Upgrading to J standard is cost prohibitive, when you consider the hours already on the airframe.
    Our best option is to get in on the C17 operated by SAC.


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