Ireland's defence minister Michael Smith is proposing that the Irish Air Corps' largest airbase at Baldonnel near Dublin is opened to commercial traffic to help raise I£235 million ($320 million) for new Air Corps equipment. A report on potential fund raising in lieu of central funding will be presented to the Irish Government in October. The Air Corps requires 12 helicopters, eight trainers/light strike aircraft and two utility aircraft. Similar proposals from Irish entrepreneur Tony Ryan have twice been rejected (Flight International, 16-22 June).
Source: Flight International
