Government to buy Learjet 45

[Frank (Admin)]

Government to buy Bombardier jet

September 5, 2003

It is understood the Government is likely to go ahead with the purchase of a new seven to nine-seater jet from Bombardier, despite the company having to ground a number of its aircraft.

The Department of Defence is confident that safety worries over the new jet will be resolved before the plane is delivered.

The 9 seater Learjet 45, manufactured by Canadian firm Bombardier, has been grounded in the United States because of a faulty part in the tail section.

But the Government says Bombardier have kept it fully informed of the difficulties, and have assured it that the problem will be resolved in time for the jet to be delivered before Ireland's EU Presidency begins in January.

The contract for the purchase of the Learjet has not yet been signed.

The jet is being bought to replace the existing Beechcraft aeroplane, which has been in service since 1980.

It will join the existing Government jet, a Gulfstream IV, in transporting ministers during the hectic Presidency schedule.

At the end of July, the Government decided not to go ahead with the purchase of a larger jet to replace the Gulfstream, which has been plagued by technical problems.

Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0905/jet.html


Click here for more information on the Learjet 45


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Regards,

Frank.

[yossarian]

would the fact that it would not be on the military register affect the decision? Availability of preferred landing strips etc..

[P.Doff]

The new lear 45(our own one!) is due to arrive on Dec 17th, for any of yis who want to get a photo!

[Frank (Admin)]

Learjet 45. Picture taken from the Bombardier website


New government jet costing €8m to land in December
 
A NEW jet to ferry Government ministers to urgent meetings during Ireland's forthcoming EU presidency will be bought with savings from the fund to settle army deafness claims.

An €8.4m contract for the supply of the jet will be signed this afternoon by Defence Minister Michael Smith.

The Bombardier Learjet 45 light business jet is being purchased to augment the ministerial air transport service and will be delivered in December.

It replaces a 23-year-old Beech King aircraft and will be funded from within the existing Department of Defence budget.

The savings to pay for the new plane were achieved through a reduction in compensation awards for army deafness claims.

These savings were achieved in the wake of a decision by the Defence Minister to impose a final deadline for the early settlement scheme.

Any subsequent claims are being fought by the State on the grounds that they are statute-barred.

And where the department is successful in any case the minister is seeking the costs of the hearing from the claimant.

Since the decision was taken, the average number of new claims has fallen by 63pc from 11 a week to four.

The reduction in payouts has already allowed the minister to divert funding for

* The purchase of 65 new armoured personnel carriers for the Army at a cost of €80m;

* Two new ships for the Naval Service for €57m;

* And eight training craft for the Air Corps that will cost in the region of €60m.

Government plans to lease a Learjet 45 from next month prior to buying a craft were dropped earlier this month after the plane was grounded in the United States because of safety fears.

Ministers had hoped to lease the plane for about three months to cope with increased travel demands in the lead-up to the presidency which begins in January.

The leasing arrangement would also also have allowed Air Corps pilots and crew to become familiar with the model before the new one was delivered.

The jet ordered by the Government is still being built and will not contain the faulty part that led to the others being grounded. The Government is satisfied that the December deadline will be met.

The Learjet 45 is designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace which is one of the biggest manufacturers on the island, employing some 5,700 people in Belfast where about half of the craft is made.

The Government decided in July to purchase a seven-seater jet rather than go ahead with plans to purchase a 40-seater craft because of worsening public finances and likely public opposition.

The existing 14-seater Gulfstream IV model is being retained.

Tom Brady
Security Editor

http://www.unison.ie/irish_i....id=9827

[FiannaFail]

I just cannot wait to get my hands on it!!!
FiannaFail
 '>

[Silver]

A very sensible purchase.
Common sense prevails in Govt at last !!!!

It seems like a bit of a bargain to me !  -  €8.4 million ??!
Maybe we should have ordered two and sell the Gulfstream  '>

Or is Bertie still holding out for that jacuzzi  

[R.P.Y.]

I'm sure that I read recently that that all Lear 45s were grounded due to some safety concerns. Oops ! just read Frank's post. Does anyone know if this has been resolved ?  '>

[Imshi-Yallah]

I still say buying a Saab 340 would make more sense.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

what i would like to know is why does the gov not go in on the netjet or flexjet option
1. it would be alot cheaper, the company does all the work
2. theres no problem with getting one, theres always one available
3. 8m would get you a BBJ for a long time
4. you only pay for what you need, need 100hrs a year thats all you pay for.

so i ask whats wrong with that option

[Imshi-Yallah]

It makes sense.......... '>
If they bought something along the lines of a 340 they'd have a regional liner for short hops that would take all the pressure  off the GIV, be more economical and have more use when not in MATS service (i.e. air ambulance, twin trainer)