Third Airbus Defence C295 Confirmed for the Air Corps
The Defence Forces have signed a new contract to include the additional purchase of an Airbus Defence C295W Military Transport Aircraft. The contract is valued at €55.297 million excluding VAT. The various roles of the new aircraft include:
- Logistical and Personnel transport for current and future overseas missions
- Special Operations Forces support and training requirements
- Military Transport Aircraft Secondary Roles
- Aid to the Civil Power and Aid to the Civil Authority
- Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)
- Aeromedical Transport
- MDSO Support
- MATS Back up
The contract was signed in late December but details have only recently been made public. Acquisitions such as this would usually be required to go to public tender but in certain situations, such as the extension of an existing contract, this is not required. In this particular case each separate aircraft platform in the organisation presents a unique and significant supply chain and training (technical and operator) burden for this reason having two aircraft platforms procured from different suppliers is problematic and carries with it substantial risk.
In the area of training, pilots, crew and maintenance personnel the technical differences between two different aircraft platforms would require extensive and disproportionate additional training and incompatibility issues that would have significant implications for operations.
It is essential to maintain a single aircraft type within this fleet category to avoid the significant risk arising from operator complications caused by a mixed fleet of aircraft.
The purchase of a C295W MTA from the original manufacturer will enable the seamless, safe and secure integration of Military Transport Aircraft with the existing fleet due to the technical compatibility with the C295W MPA.
No delivery date for the third aircraft has been announced but the first C295 is expected to be delivered shortly.
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
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