Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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64. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the runway at Baldonnel Aerodrome has the capacity to handle Airbus A380 types of aircraft. [20494/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel is a military installation and home to the air component of the Permanent Defence Force. The aerodrome facilitates training and operations by Air Corps aircraft, including the operation of the Ministerial Air Transport Service, the Garda Air Support Unit, fishery protection patrols, air ambulance missions etc.

The Air Corps is responsible for the management of air traffic at Casement Aerodrome. I am advised that the longest runway at Casement Aerodrome is 1828 metres long and therefore does not have the capacity to handle the A380 aircraft. The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner requiring nearly 3000 metres in runway length in order to take off.

However, I am however satisfied that the existing infrastructure provision at Baldonnel is sufficient to enable the Air Corps carry out its current training and operational requirements.