Sir, – Please allow me to make a few observations concerning the provision of air services to the Aran Islands. As a former Air Corps officer, I am well aware of the need for transparency and best value in the public procurement process and as a senior lecturer in aviation management, I have some knowledge of commercial aviation operations.
Having no financial interest in either Aer Arann or the new helicopter company, I must confess my enduring relationship with Inisheer, to which I have been returning every August since 1993, except when I “volunteered” for overseas service in 2009 in Africa. Sometimes I take the ferry from Rossaveal but on many occasions have used Aer Arann from Inveran; the airline employs three Islander piston-engined aircraft. The latter use AVGAS, a type of petrol, which allows the engines to be used repeatedly for short flights and to be turned on and off without excessive damage at each of the four airstrips in use.
On every flight the nine passengers and their baggage travel in functional style, while the endearing features that spring to mind about the operation are the friendly, efficient staff and the flexibility of the product.
Helicopters are wonderful machines but their operating costs may be up to four times higher than their equivalent fixed-wing counterparts, where such exist.
Using AVTUR, a type of kerosene that is cheaper than AVGAS, their engines need a minimum time before they can be restarted between flights. They are much less suited to short flights where island-hopping is the norm; flying from Galway Airport (a friendly facility to be sure) in lieu of Inveran will certainly add to the flying time expenses.
If the existing island airports become redundant, then some kind of heliport will be needed for commercial operations, complete with an approved crash rescue cover. To my knowledge Ireland has never had a heliport, although regulations concerning their construction and operation are available.
After all the debate a single question remains – was there anyone with aviation experience involved in the procurement process in this particular instance? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN BYRNE,
Lieutenant Colonel
(Retired),
Celbridge, Co Kildare.