The Irish Air Corps has welcomed the first of two brand new "state-of-the-art" Airbus planes to their base in Baldonnel, Dublin.
Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin visited Casement Aerodrome this afternoon as the first of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft arrived in the country. The two new Airbus planes are replacing the CASA CN235-100 Maritime Patrol Aircraft which were purchased in 1994 by the Air Corps.
The massive new Airbus C295 plane is over 41ft long, and it was made in Seville, Spain with capacity for 71 seats onboard. The C295's main purpose is maritime surveillance for fisheries protection, but the planes can also be used for medical evacuation and air ambulances, search and rescue and a general utility role.
