The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ASL Aviation Group has signed a partnership with Shannon Airport which
will see Shannon become a new base for ASL’s Hercules aircraft operations.
ASL plans to initially base two L-100 aircraft in Shannon, to be used on
missions ranging from oil-spill response to humanitarian aid. The Hercules’
crews and support staff will be based in Shannon where Air Contractors, an
ASL Group company, already has its own maintenance base.
The decision follows the signing of a Letter of Intent by ASL Aviation
Groupwith aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin this week to order up to 10
LM-100J commercialHercules freighter aircraft. The intention is to progressively transitionthese new aircraft into the fleet, replacing the older models.
“We’ve long relied on our L-100s to deliver results that no other aircraft
can produce,” said Hugh Flynn, chief executive, ASL Aviation Group.
“We take pride in our L-100 fleet, and we eagerly look forward to our future as
LM-100J operators. We are also very happy to be announcing Shannon as a new
L-100 base. Shannon is already an important base for ASL and we look
forward to growing our activity there in the months and years ahead.”
Shannon Airport Chairman Rose Hynes welcomed the announcement as another
early win for the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) at Shannon.
“ASL is already a valued partner for Shannon Airport, and we are delighted
that ASL has now selected Shannon as a new base for its L-100 Hercules
operations.
“Shannon is a cost-effective and efficient base for specialist aircraft,
such as these, that fly important missions to curb pollution and transport
humanitarian aid. We’re proud to welcome them, and we’re committed to
helping ASL develop at Shannon.
“This is another a positive early gain for the International Aviation
Services Centre at Shannon, which we plan to grow as an aviation centre of
excellence, building on the aviation related activities already located in
the Shannon Free Zone area.”
