Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Defence the total number and category of aircraft currently available to the Air Corps; the extent to which training, equipment and technology is comparable to that available to other such forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5984/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that there are a total of 27 aircraft operating from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Of this total, 3 aircraft are operated by the Air Corps for An Garda Siochana related activities, namely two EC 135 Helicopters and 1 Fixed Wing Defender 4000 aircraft. The remaining 24 aircraft, 16 Fixed Wing and 8 Rotary, are available to the Air Corps.

The sixteen Fixed Wing aircraft are made up of the Gulfstream IV, Learjet 45, 2 CASA Maritime Patrol aircraft, 5 Cessna aircraft and 7 Pilatus PC9 aircraft, used in the main for pilot training. The rotary fleet is made up of 6 AW 139 and 2 EC 135 helicopters, one of which is currently out of operational use and is undergoing repairs.

The Air Corps operate a maintenance plan which endeavors to ensure that the maximum number of operational flying hours is available from aircraft when most needed. The maintenance of the Air Corps fleet falls into three broad categories: scheduled, unscheduled and routine/daily. The use of Power by the Hour / Performance Based maintenance contracts assists the Air Corps in keeping downtime of aircraft to the minimum. The provision for the Air Corps in 2014 mainly relates to these maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the Air Corps fleet fully operational with specific maintenance work being carried out on the CASA Maritime Patrol Aircraft related to the overhaul of engines on the aircraft.

The Air Corps keep abreast of all developments in modern aviation. It will continue to conduct its training in accordance with industry best practices and to the highest standards, referencing European Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration requirements.