Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of reports that planes associated with the flight school, charter flights and flight clubs at Weston Airport are operating outside of designated flight paths; if there are records monitoring the adherence of pilots to their designated flights; to supply any available records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23940/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Weston Airport ("Weston") is licensed and certified by the Irish Aviation Authority ("IAA") as an aerodrome operator and air navigation services provider. A volume of airspace has been designated to Weston to enable them to provide these services. Under the terms of their licence and certification, Weston are responsible for the safety and management of aircraft, on the ground at the airport, and in the airspace where they provide services.

The IAA have certified Weston, pursuant to EU Regulation 2017/373, as an air navigation services provider. This enables the airport to provide air traffic services and communication services to flights at the aerodrome and within their assigned airspace. In addition, Weston holds a license issued by the IAA in accordance with SI 355 of 2008 which enables them to provide aerodrome services for public use.

Weston aerodrome is in Class C airspace and aircraft there operate on a visual flight rules basis.

As part of its oversight, the IAA requires Weston to have a safety management system in place. This management system provides the framework and processes to enable the risks associated with the provision of services to air traffic are managed with safety tolerable levels. The IAA conducts oversight to ensure the management system is operating effectively and meets regulatory requirements.

Queries related to the safety and management of aircraft at the airport or in the airspace where Weston provide services should be addressed to Weston directly in the first instance. The IAA’s remit with respect to aerodromes is safety related and, as such, if people or organisations would like to register a safety-related complaint they can do so at www.iaa.ie/safety/safety-reporting. Environmental issues, including noise, are under the remit of the relevant local authority.