Casement Aerodrome
Encyclopedia
Casement Aerodrome or Baldonnel Aerodrome is a military airbase to the south west of Dublin, Ireland
situated off the N7 main road route
to the south and south west. It is the headquarters and the sole base of the Irish Air Corps
, and is also used for other government purposes. It is the property of the Irish Department of Defence
.
. Snowdrifts were experienced in winters during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The strength of the wind, when coming from a south-westerly direction, is stronger than in other areas near Dublin because of the location of this station in relation to the Dublin Mountains.
The aerodrome was originally run by two pilots from the Royal Air Force
. The airfield was the one from which the first successful east-west Atlantic
crossing by a Junkers W33 aeroplane
, the Bremen
, took off on 12 April 1928 with Baron Hünefeld
, Hermann Köhl
and Captain James Fitzmaurice
as co-pilot, as well as the first Aer Lingus
flight took place on May 27, 1936. It was also the destination at which Douglas Corrigan
landed on his famous 'wrong way' flight across the Atlantic.
In February 1965 Baldonnel was renamed Casement Aerodrome in honour of the Irish nationalist Roger Casement
, executed for treason by the British in 1916.
In 1995 it was suggested that it be used as a second commercial airport
for Dublin, especially for low-cost carrier
s such as Ryanair
.
Anti-war activists have accused the Government of allowing the Aerodrome's use as a US military air base, with recent protests leading to four arrests and in March 2002, Michael Smith
, the Minister for Defence
, confirmed that since September 2001, 22 US military aircraft had landed at the aerodrome.
Queen Elizabeth II landed at Casement Aerodrome on May 17, 2011, beginning her state visit to Ireland.
Baldonnel Aerodrome is also the home of the Garda Air Support Unit
where two Eurocopter EC 135
T2's are based. The Eurocopters are on constant alert 24/7 and are on always on-call. Both are fitted with Turbomeca (T2) engines. Garda aircraft are maintained on the Irish military register. Irish Air Corps personnel pilot all aircraft and provide maintenance facilities on behalf of the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform.
All aircraft in service with the Unit are selected to meet stringent operational policing requirements. The aircraft are fitted with the latest police role equipment including 'state of the art' daylight and thermal image cameras mounted on gyro stabilised platforms, search lights, extensive communication suites and microwave downlink/uplink technology.
The aerodrome is also home to a Britten-Norman Defender
4000 BN2T-4S series which is operated for the Garda Air Support Unit on behalf of the Irish Air Corps
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
situated off the N7 main road route
Roads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
to the south and south west. It is the headquarters and the sole base of the Irish Air Corps
Irish Air Corps
The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...
, and is also used for other government purposes. It is the property of the Irish Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Ireland)
The Department of Defence is the department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for preserving peace and security in Ireland and abroad...
.
Weather
Casement experiences less fog than Dublin AirportDublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
. Snowdrifts were experienced in winters during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The strength of the wind, when coming from a south-westerly direction, is stronger than in other areas near Dublin because of the location of this station in relation to the Dublin Mountains.
History
The airfield was first laid out in 1917 and was used by the Royal Flying Corps (soon to become the Royal Air Force). It was part of the RAF's Ireland Command.The aerodrome was originally run by two pilots from the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The airfield was the one from which the first successful east-west Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
crossing by a Junkers W33 aeroplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
, the Bremen
Bremen (aircraft)
The Bremen is a German Junkers W33 type aircraft that made the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west between April 12 and April 14, 1928....
, took off on 12 April 1928 with Baron Hünefeld
Ehrenfried Günther Freiherr von Hünefeld
Ehrenfried Günther Freiherr von Hünefeld was a German aviation pioneer and initiator of the first trans-atlantic flight in East-West direction....
, Hermann Köhl
Hermann Köhl
Hermann Köhl was a German Aviation pioneer and pilot of the first trans-atlantic flight in the East-West direction....
and Captain James Fitzmaurice
James Fitzmaurice (pilot)
James Fitzmaurice DFC was an Irish aviation pioneer. He was a member of the crew of the Bremen, which made the first successful Trans-Atlantic aircraft flight from East to West on 12–13 April 1928.-Early life:...
as co-pilot, as well as the first Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
flight took place on May 27, 1936. It was also the destination at which Douglas Corrigan
Douglas Corrigan
Douglas Corrigan was an American aviator born in Galveston, Texas. He was nicknamed "Wrong Way" in 1938. After a transcontinental flight from Long Beach, California, to New York, he flew from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, to Ireland, though his flight plan was filed to return to Long...
landed on his famous 'wrong way' flight across the Atlantic.
In February 1965 Baldonnel was renamed Casement Aerodrome in honour of the Irish nationalist Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
, executed for treason by the British in 1916.
In 1995 it was suggested that it be used as a second commercial airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
for Dublin, especially for low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
s such as Ryanair
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
.
Anti-war activists have accused the Government of allowing the Aerodrome's use as a US military air base, with recent protests leading to four arrests and in March 2002, Michael Smith
Michael Smith (Irish politician)
Michael Smith is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for Tipperary North on several occasions since 1969...
, the Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Ireland)
The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
, confirmed that since September 2001, 22 US military aircraft had landed at the aerodrome.
Queen Elizabeth II landed at Casement Aerodrome on May 17, 2011, beginning her state visit to Ireland.
Other uses
Garda Air Support Unit
The Garda Air Support Unit is a unit of An Garda Síochána which was formed in 1997. The GASU is part of the Operational Support Unit which provides specialist support to Gardaí nationwide...
where two Eurocopter EC 135
Eurocopter EC 135
The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
T2's are based. The Eurocopters are on constant alert 24/7 and are on always on-call. Both are fitted with Turbomeca (T2) engines. Garda aircraft are maintained on the Irish military register. Irish Air Corps personnel pilot all aircraft and provide maintenance facilities on behalf of the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform.
All aircraft in service with the Unit are selected to meet stringent operational policing requirements. The aircraft are fitted with the latest police role equipment including 'state of the art' daylight and thermal image cameras mounted on gyro stabilised platforms, search lights, extensive communication suites and microwave downlink/uplink technology.
The aerodrome is also home to a Britten-Norman Defender
Britten-Norman Defender
|-External links:*...
4000 BN2T-4S series which is operated for the Garda Air Support Unit on behalf of the Irish Air Corps
Irish Air Corps
The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...