Cessna Replacement - The Options

[Pure Hover]

Looks like it could be on the fringes of an urban area to me Pym and in fairness the quote above related to the purchase of aircraft for the embryonic GASU when the AC had significant difficulties convincing the Garda authorities of the merits of twin-engined operations over urban areas.


My money would be on a fleet of replacement 172's. Superb aircraft and good valve for money.

[B Inman]

I watched a Pilatus Porter and a Cessena (similar to the Aer Corp ones) taking people up for a charity jump and I was very impressed with the Pilatus. It had a much better performance, really quick to get to jump height and being bigger was able to carry more people.
I know SFA about planes but that day in Clonbullogue was an eye opener for me.
An aircraft similar to the Pilatus would give the Aer Corp a big increase in capability.

[Goldie fish]

I'd be inclined to suggest myself that a transition to an all TP fleet would be a timely step forward. So continuing with another fleet of 172's would be a retrograde step, in a small air arm that has almost limited its engine source to one type of turbine.

The time for piston power has passed.

[hptmurphy]

The AC will "not operate single engined aircraft at night, over urban areas or over water".

From my memory

Iona operating Caravans for Fedex , it wasn't an option, single engine commercial as above wasn't allowed..end of!

[DeV]

http://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/archive/index.php/t-19420.html

[GoneToTheCanner]

Murph, the Caravan is widely used throughout Europe and the rest of the world on single-engined cargo and pax ops........the problem with the PC-6, although a fine aircraft, is that it is effectively built to order and is expensive as a result.Pilatus' aircraft are not cheap to buy and keep, as the AC already knows. The Caravan is mass-produced, plentiful, part of the Cessna supply chain, has excellent tech support and is easy to train onto and easy to keep. It is also easy to reconfigure for different tasks and can land on practically anything.If the Donners want to look at one, a well-known friend of mine minds one in Limerick.......
regards
GttC

[ias]

Re the PC-6, does being a tail dragger go against it?

[Dave_Lewis]

I'd also recommend the Caravan. It's a proven and effective aircraft.

[GoneToTheCanner]

All they would have to do is get appropriate training........the Caravan can loiter low and slow for cash escorts or it can function as a para dropper all day or it can carry any kind of Int/Survey/garda equipment all day or night and the military version can carry lots of external loads..........the Airvan has a piston engine and the Don wants to get away from them, otherwise it is a very good aircraft........the twin Otter is wonderful but too big for cashies/target towing/light para loads.

regards
GttC

[SpudGunner]

So would primary flight training be farmed out to a civilian/overseas school? Or how does it work with the AC? Genuine question.

[Rhodes]

So would primary flight training be farmed out to a civilian/overseas school? Or how does it work with the AC? Genuine question.

The Air Corps trains its own pilots and instructors.

[SpudGunner]

So will it retain piston engine a/c for that purpose?

[DeV]

Currently cadets start on the PC-9

[Goldie fish]

The Cessna 172 is not used for flight training at all in the Irish Air Corps.

[Tony Kearns]

The Cessna 172 is not used for flight training at all in the Irish Air Corps.

Gf
I presume you mean not used for initial flight training.
Regards
Tony K