First seaplane flight at Mountshannon

One of Harbour Air Ireland’s first seaplane test flights took place last Tuesday morning in Mountshannon Harbour, drawing interested spectators, public representatives and concerned residents to Lough Derg.

Local objectors had planned protests for the initial test flight, which was due to take place in early April but had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions. However, no group protest was mounted by those opposed to the seaplane.
When Harbour Air Ireland’s planning application for a pontoon and slipway to service a seaplane on Lough Derg at Dooras, 12 objections were lodged by individuals, as well as clubs and organisations in the area.
Arising from local concern, a meeting of anglers and residents was held last month and a committee was formed. Secretary of the Mountshannon Angling Club, Adrian Hickey, explained that the committee is happy to let the planning process take its course at this stage but said the club was “very disappointed” with the short notice given in relation to the test flight. 
“We were never contacted, we only knew about it the day before through Clare FM,” he said.
He explained that there were concerns by club members that the company chose to bring in a four-seater plane when the planning permission indicates that the company plans to land a 19-seater aircraft. Another concern raised by Mr Hickey was how many planes the company intended to dock at Mountshannon.
“I’d like to see an 18-seater plane going in there on a busy Sunday when the sailing boats and cruisers are out there and see how things go. If they want to be up front with us, why not bring in the 18-seater?” Mr Hickey commented. 
“We are going down the route of due process at the moment and we will be having a meeting on Sunday to discuss where we go from here.”
Commenting following the test flight, Stewart Curtis, operations manager with Harbour Air Ireland, responded to concerns raised by Mr Hickey. “We have a four-seater, a six-seater plane and we have a 14-seater plane but because of EASA rulings it can only operate as a nine-seater plane. The biggest plane we propose will go into Mountshannon at the moment is a nine-seater single otter plane. In our planning we have sought planning for a twin otter, which has 19 seats, the likelihood of having that plane land in Mountshannon in the first 18 months to two and half years is very unlikely. We are in the process of sorting out the best plane for the route,” Mr Curtis said.
He added that presently it’s the company’s intention to dock one plane in Mountshannon.
“We have to walk before we have to run and as things expand we will come up to the nine-seater, that’s the ultimate goal. I don’t envisage a 19-seater coming into Mountshannon but we hope to put in another base for the bigger planes on the Shannon. We would need a bigger option for that and a 19-seater would be the biggest in our fleet and that’s why we have to have planning for the biggest ­machine but the likelihood of it coming into Mountshannon is unlikely,” Mr Curtis stressed.
He added that the company is still interested in meeting with anyone who has concerns about the proposed seaplane operation with a view to alleviating any problems.