Taoiseach suggests new Government Jet required

[Winston Smith]

According to TodayFM today (22nd April 2008), An Taoiseach has suggested that his successor should consider a new government jet because with the current one "you can stand up" and it "has no toilet". He is referring to the Learjet 45 purchased new in 2004 for € 8.5 million.

He also critisised the Beech Kingair 200 which enterned service in 1980 for having suffered a number of electrical fires, including one in flight.

He did not mention the Gulfstream IV, which was the aircraft he was aboard earlier this month which, it was initially believed, was struck by lightning and entered service in 1991.

There are 3 aircraft, within the Irish Air Corps Ministerial Air Transport squadron, the Learjet, the Gulfstream and the Beechcraft which are full time at the disposal of the President and government. The UK has no such provision.

The Learjet 45 is designed for and deployed for "short haul" flights, while the Gulfstream (in which you can stand up and which has toilet facilities) is used for longer journeys. Curiously, it is common for both aircraft to position from their base in Baldonnel to Dublin airport in order to collect their passengers.

While I do not object to the fleet, the current aircraft are more than capable for their requirements, and the Learjet and Gulfstream are the only jet aircraft in the current Air Corps fleet. http://www.military.ie/aircorps/fleet/fleet.htm

[odie1kanobe]

Wrong UK Government have more than adequate provision of aircraft from No 32 Royal Squadron or they call on BA for a Jet.

[KingKane]

Should he have learned by now to go before leaving the house? I mean we teach toddlers that much.

[droghedasouth]

Should he have learned by now to go before leaving the house? I mean we teach toddlers that much.

Maybe he was thinking of Jay and Rocco.

At the same time, half the government behave as if they haven't been toilet trained yet.

I suppose his next complaint will be that he cant stand-up in his ministerial car and that doesn't come with toilet facilities either.

Really, if I were him I would wonder whether all this Taoiseach stuff was worth the effort.

Maybe that explains his shock resignation with dignity on April 2nd.
He was probably afraid that he would start wetting his canary-yellow pants if he stayed on as Taoiseach any longer.

[Winston Smith]

No 32 Royal Squadron (formery Royal or Queens Flight) provide services primarily to the Royal Family (head of state) and has been significantly wound down over the last number of defence spending reviews in the UK. Their use by government ministers has diminished over this time too. The squadron has no intercontinental capabilities. The UK Government can not "call on" BA aircraft since it is no longer state owned. They lease aircraft as necessary for PM and government (apparently a broker in Gatwick is the current organiser) or utilise scheduled services.

[odie1kanobe]

28 year old aircraft should be sold as repair bills cost more than its worth. Given that it does fishery protection as well then it should be a lot more modern.

17 year old aircraft should also be sold again its well past it.

Time to lease a number of new aircraft.

[droghedasouth]

28 year old aircraft should be sold as repair bills cost more than its worth. Given that it does fishery protection as well then it should be a lot more modern.

17 year old aircraft should also be sold again its well past it.

Time to lease a number of new aircraft.

He was complaining about the plane they bought in 2004.

Now I wonder who was Taoiseach way back then?

[Winston Smith]

The Beechking, the propeller driven member of the fleet, is getting long in the tooth. Before being allocated to Ministerial duties, it did coastal patrol.

Both the Learjet and Gulfstream jets are not heavily utilised and have plenty of life in them yet. For modern jet aircraft, which both of them are, it is not their calender age that is the issue, it is the number of "Cycles" (takeoff, pressurisation, landing) that is the issue. Both the Gulfstream and Learjet are very low cycle aircraft.

[seabhac siulach]

Breaking news...northside man of the people Bertie wants a new Learjet...

Jesus wept...
When there are kids being schooled in rat-infested prefabs and the health service is in tatters, this is the man we have as Taoiseach.

[odie1kanobe]

Breaking news...northside man of the people Bertie wants a new Learjet...

Jesus wept...
When there are kids being schooled in rat-infested prefabs and the health service is in tatters, this is the man we have as Taoiseach.

Dear Boy as he is no longer Taoiseach from May and these planes don't have a showroom to just go and pick one up then he wants nothing of the sort.