The Government is considering the purchase of a new jet, and is understood to have examined the potential of the European Airbus Corporate Jetliner a medium-sized jet capable of carrying up to 40 passengers.
A repeat fault in the landing gear of the Government Gulfstream IV (G4) jet has led to further speculation about a replacement aircraft, although no tendering process has begun.
The G4 returned to Casement Aerodrome on Thursday morning after an alert light came on after takeoff indicating a fault in the front landing wheel. The aircraft was on its way to Dublin Airport to pick up the Minister for Social Affairs, Mr Ahern, for a trip to Brussels.
On Thursday afternoon the aircraft was flown to the Gulfstream agents in Europe, Jet Aviation in Switzerland, for an inspection and returned at around midnight on Thursday.
A spokesman for the Defence Forces said yesterday there was "no safety issue" involved. A similar incident caused the aircraft to return to Baldonnell eight days earlier. On that occasion Mr Ahern was due to fly to Cork.
The G4 is nine years old with around 7,000 flying hours and is considered a highly serviceable aircraft. On the open market it is probably worth around $20 million, according to sources close to the Air Corps.