Government jet returns after overhaul in USALISON HEALY
THE GOVERNMENT jet returned to Dublin yesterday after undergoing a major refurbishment in the US.
The Gulfstream jet is 17 years old and has flown more than 11,200 hours, or 660 hours a year.
This is almost twice the annual hours flown by jets of a similar age.
Air Corps personnel flew the jet to Savannah, Georgia, on July 20th for a major overhaul after buying a replacement was ruled out. They also tested the jet before it was returned home yesterday.
Earlier this year, the then taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil there was not "an aircraft in the world, or the Third World" that had flown as many hours as the Gulfstream IV.
While most jets have their interiors refurbished every five to seven years, the Gulfstream has not had a major overhaul since the Government bought it in 1991.
Its cabin had become shabby and concern had been expressed that this might affect its airworthiness.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence said the total cost of the refurbishment was still being calculated as the jet had just returned.
The additional staff costs involving the Air Corps personnel were not available yesterday.
The Government also has a smaller aircraft, a Lear jet, which was bought at the beginning of the rotating EU presidency in 2004. It is used for short- and medium-haul flights.
Freedom of Information documents published in the Irish Independent yesterday showed that leasing a jet instead of refurbishing the current one would have cost €5 million a year.
Airbus had made an offer to the Government of flight hours on corporate jets at an "agreed fee", if it wished to dispose of the Gulfstream.
It also offered to find a buyer for the Gulfstream but in return, the Government would have to buy a new aircraft.
However, it was decided that the current jet should be repaired and refurbished to ensure that it remained airworthy.
The Government jet came to public notice last April when it was struck by lightning as it approached George Best Belfast City Airport.
The jet, carrying Mr Ahern and his officials, landed safely and no one was injured in the incident.
© 2008 The Irish Times
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