Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me address the Deputy's first matter first. Ministerial air transport missions are, by their nature, scheduled services where flights are pre-arranged. The standby roster did not service ministerial air transport missions. Standing down the ministerial air transport service was not a solution for the roster and would not improve the availability of services by the Air Corps.

The Learjet that is most frequently used for ministerial transport is not suitable for top cover missions. It is also not a solution for roster problems faced by the Air Corps because a very small number of pilots are qualified to fly it. Therefore, using the Learjet on standby is not an option.

Flying any form of aircraft is not like driving a car. People are specifically qualified and trained, and are required to have service hours, in order to qualify to fly fixed wing aircraft, ministerial air transport, CASA or rotary wing aircraft. Each pilot is required to have specific training for each aircraft. I will revert to the Deputy on the other issue raised, namely that there are people who can fly all aircraft, because I am not aware of that.

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