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THE GOVERNMENT’S GULFSTREAM IV jet, one of two aircraft used for official business, has broken down — and the Department of Defence is now assessing options on what should be done about it.
A spokesperson for the Department confirmed that problems had been detected with the undercarriage of the plane during routine maintenance checks.
Discussions between officials and manufacturers the Gulf Aerospace Corporation are ongoing, the spokesperson said.
Defence Minister Simon Coveney is to bring a report to his ministerial colleagues on the problem, but the issue is not expected to be discussed at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.
Coveney’s predecessor Alan Shatter said in 2012 that he had no intention of getting rid of either of the two Government jets – even though the previous government had made plans to dispose of one of them.
The two jets between them comprise the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) – but the Gulfstream, which is 23 years old, was earmarked for abandonment in Brian Lenihan’s Budget of in December 2010.
The craft has racked up over 13,000 flying hours.
In a ministerial briefing document prepared shortly before Simon Coveney took over the portfolio, officials said that no provision had been made in the 2014 Budget process for its replacement “and the aircraft is to remain in service for so long as routine maintenance is sufficient”.
If any costly non-routine maintenance or major structural repair is required to be carried out, the aircraft will be grounded and a decision, on the future of the jet, will be required. There are currently no plans to sell this aircraft.
Replacing the jet with one of a similar age could cost around €4 million.
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Haven’t we become so dependent on everything electric? When we had power outage in our old house we had at least an Aga. We had our own well, meaning no water. That was inconvenient but you could work around it as you were out of the house for most of the day anyway. We could still cook, wash and stay warm. Now most houses don’t have the solid fuel option anymore; it’s terrible for the elderly and families with small kids. All the oil in the tank is of no use then. One can only hope they have families to go to, or someone calling by till power is restored.
Or they could buy a generator……
Well I think a camping stove or something like that can very easily get somebody over the line for the day or two they are without power….
Have to go out in it later today but for now nice n warm here @ home chilling out in Front of d telly n a warm tv3 studio ha
Oh what a night!
We have blue skies
Not much good to the people who have no electricity…
Solar panels would be useful
Also leave thousands of trampolines flying!
have your say