Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DUBLIN AIRPORT AUTHORITY (DAA) spent €7,000 painting one of its fire engines a bright green colour before concerns about visibility led to it being repainted its original reddish-orange colour.
Airport authorities typically repaint fire tenders every ten years and about 18 months ago when one of the fleet was due to be repainted a new colour scheme incorporating DAA corporate colours was tested.
This involved one of Dublin Airport Fire Service’s fire tenders (engines) being painted a bright green colour but after about six months concerns were raised about the new colour scheme’s visibility to air traffic control.
Following consultation with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), it was jointly agreed to repaint the engine back to its original colour.
The total cost of the new colour scheme and repainting job was €7,000.
DAA said in a statement: “We repaint fire tenders at Dublin Airport about 10 years, as the colour typically fades. About 18 months ago, when one of the fleet was due to be repainted we tested a new colour scheme that featured DAA corporate colours.
“After about six months, following consultation with the Irish Aviation Authority, the tender was re-painted in the original colour. The total cost of trialling a different colour was €7,000.
“DAA is a fully commercial semi-State company that receives no Exchequer funding.”
The Irish Aviation Authority also confirmed the matter in a statement, saying: “The DAA trialled a new livery on a single fire engine at Dublin Airport.
“This new livery was found to be not as highly visible to air traffic control as the previous one. Following consultation with the IAA, the DAA agreed to revert back to old livery.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I don’t see the big deal tbh. They were just trialling the idea. In the end it wasn’t an improvement and they decided against it. Are we supposed to be outraged about this?
Or is the story simply about a fire-engine being painted?!
We’re gonna paint a wagon, gonna paint it good…
Simpsons.
How is this even newsworthy? Might aswell say i drove to the shops and back
Get me a Brunch and a packet of Meanies if you are going again.
So?
7grand?? We just gave away 1 billion euro today to UNSECURED billionaire gamblers!!
Yet another story that is twisted to the bondholders. Can we keep it to economic articles?
Vocal Outrage, this story does have relevance in terms of our economy, it seems like a very poor financial decision to pay out 7k to paint one vehicle to those of us on the outside, and considering the last few years, every badly spent penny is making us cringe. However without comparable quotations from similar companies showing how cheap the paint job could have been it is hard to know what to feel about it!
Have to say this all sounds very reasonable. They tested the idea, it didn’t work, no big deal.
There really shouldn’t have been a problem with the same colour green as from the DAA logo. Looks similar colour to other airport firetrucks I have seen before.
At least they didnt paint them all green and then change them back (Ill make an assumption that they have several). Seven grand doesnt sound all that bad considering its a big truck.
€7000 guys??
Must be a big come down from the good old days when yee used to squander €100′s of millions.
The red one looks like a Transformer.
The green one looks like a Power Ranger.
’nuff said, leave it alone.
My neighbour had their gate painted. First the handyman painted a gun barrel grey over the rust and then came back a couple of days later to finish it in glossy black….Can I have a job at thejournal.ie now ?
No, it’s too exclusive. You could try for a content sharing agreement with Business Insider though. They take all sorts on.
Most previous comments agree this is a non-story. Oh look a semi-state spent some money lets all have a hissy fit. Lets move on to some real news.
have to question “fully commercial semi state” as it sounds like a get out of jail card for responsibility of being this states international airport operator that we own.
regarding the fire engine colour, mistakes happen it was one fire engine and been resolved, get over it
Fireman Sam!
Today is Monday the same day that the DAA mainly fire and security were going to strike… lets post a story about a. A bargain when trialing a new paint scheme or b. A waste of public funds repainting a fire tender. Sad face gutter journalism coming to the journal … new staffer from the herald or sun newspaper.
Not public funds
Cheers Steve, I was under the impression that it was, re-read article and saw the line about no funding from the state, I still think it’s poor journalism with regard to the strike notice. Like poking a bee hive and retreating to see who will get stung.
Worst non story I’ve read here. For shame the Journal……for shame.
Short comment!!! How and why is this a story???
Hugh is this news? Seriously?
That’s a relief,that could have made the “I’m a Big Red Fire Truck” song obsolete.
“I’m a big red fire truck long and stout,
When I am needed, I roar and shout.
People love to see me rush about,
Just turn me on and head me out.
I’m a big red fire truck stout and long,
Here’s is my ladder, tall and strong.
When I get a call, you’ll hear my song,
Just climb aboard and turn me on.”
Green would’ve never worked!!!
You’ve been in the sugar bowl again haven’t you??
Considering these appliances are worth upwards of 200k to buy, 7000 lids doesn’t seem too bad to me. I wonder did they get Go Faster Stripes?? Anyway… HOW IS THIS THREADWORTHY???
How modern is the fleet if they’re painted every ten years .I would have thought that these machines would have to be fairly modern to do the job properly
They’re far better maintained and in many cases newer than a lot of local fire service’s engines.
The fleet is well maintained. Very little mileage going on them anyway. You would be surprised at the age of some vehicles in service across the country’s fire service
DAA. spends ?7,000 painting fire truck twice. Painting contractor wins ?7k paint contract. Two sides of same coin. DAA afraid to spend on experiment because of possible adverse publicity. Painting company closes. DAA invests money in AIB instead.
Waste happens and most of it must be stopped but OTT commentary is detrimental to the economy. Money must circulate in the economy for the good of all.
Stop deleting completely topic relevant comments.
calsberg don’t do fire engines but if they did they’d be green ha ha strikes now i know were the daa pensions are gone
Hello folks, I know some of you have raised issues with this story being newsworthy.
Admittedly this is not an important story, certainly not compared to this story: http://www.thejournal.ie/aib-bondholder-payment-617526-Oct2012/
But we thought it was an interesting and, dare I say it, funny little yarn from out of Dublin Airport.
I mean has anyone ever heard of a bright green fire engine?
Guess who’s gonna be called the biggest news “anchor” by the guy in the office that speaks like Johnathon Ross tomorrow? ; )
Well done Steve Mc!
Here’s an honest-to-jaysus scientific study on the bloody thing!
http://www.apa.org/research/action/lime.aspx
God help us all!
Well you’ve all certainly sucked the fun out of this one.
Sucked the fun out? Seems to me most people are running with it, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much reading comments on a journal article, especially clicking on mart’s link. Funniest crack-up moment of my day.
This isn’t news… thought I was reading the Sindo online there for a minute. TheJournal- you’re better than this
Zzzzzzzzzz
The daa are worse than any govt department for wasting money which is why they are so heavily in debt with gombeens making really clever suggestions like to spray paint a fire engine, twice.
Jesus I haven’t had a packet of Meanies in years. Let’s hope the shop has some tomorrow….. Oh yea fire engines!!!!
Not even a picture of the Green one?
Either colour would match the colour of Eamon Gilmore’s face!
Only in Ireland
Hugh here is your story for tomorrow. Shock horror, knock have a 2 colours (red ones AND green ones) while the ones in Kerry have a couple of colours on them… Could be a NNI award coming your way!! http://www.fire-ireland.com/-Regional-Airports-and-Airstrips
have your say