Pilots of two government jets to be trained by world-leading British firm

PILOTS who operate the two Government jets which ferry the Taoiseach, the President and other ministers around are to be trained to fly them by a British company under a new deal.

The two jets, which have come in for much scrutiny because of their high operating costs, have also been used as air ambulances and military transport aircraft.

The British company, CAE, a world leader in offering training on simulators, has won a contract with the Irish Air Corps to train pilots for the Gulfstream G1V and Learjet 45 executive jets in service with the force.

It already provides helicopter training for CHC, the parent company of CHCI, which runs the helicopter search and rescue service for the Irish Coast Guard.

The Learjet in Irish Air Corps service, as well as ferrying VIPs around, can also be quickly modified to act as an air ambulance for transplant and other patients under an agreement with the HSE.

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