Written answers

Thursday, 19 October 2006

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Equipment

5:00 pm

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Defence the age and make of the oldest helicopter and fixed wing aircraft in the Air Corp fleet; the amount paid for each; and year of purchase. [33775/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The oldest operational helicopter in the Air Corps fleet is the Alouette 111 helicopter. There are seven such helicopters in the fleet, the oldest dates back to 1963. The cost of an Alouette at that time was €80,000 approximately.

The Alouette helicopters will be withdrawn from service when the four new AW 139 helicopters on order from Agusta S.pA in Italy enter operational service. The helicopters are being acquired at a cost of €48.4m, inclusive of VAT. The four helicopters are being built at the Agusta facility near Milan, Italy. Two of the AW 139s will be delivered in November 2006 — the first helicopter has already been handed over and is currently involved in Air Corps pilot training in Italy. The other two AW 139 helicopters will be delivered in 2007.

The oldest operational fixed wing aircraft in the fleet is the Cessna 172H. There are five such aircraft in the fleet, the oldest dates back to 1972. The cost of a Cessna 172H at that time was in the region of €10,000. The five Cessnas are currently used in supporting Army and Garda operations. There are no plans to replace the Cessnas at the current time.

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