At least one third of submissions to Galway’s local authorities on the future of Galway Airport involved a major aviation component.
Galway County Council and Galway City Council said this week they have rejected all six expressions of interest received since they advertised the 118.2 acre site for sale or lease in April last year. They purchased it in 2013 for €1.1m.
The HSE had informal conversations with Galway County Council over the summer about repurposing the airport in Carnmore for fixed wing air ambulance and Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS ) refuelling, but it is understood no formal expression of interest was lodged by the health service. Queries to the HSE from the Advertiser were not responded to.
One submission, backed by a high net worth individual via a Swiss investment vehicle, proposed an industrial aviation hub for the west of Ireland, with space set aside for emergency aviation and start-up incubators.
In summary documents seen by the Advertiser, a British aircraft manufacturer, an aviation leasing firm and an innovator in technology for “silent electric take-offs” had pitched to buy Carnmore for a figure understood to be in excess of €11 million.
This submission also included space set aside for emergency services, organ transport and short take-off (STOL ) air taxis to Belfast, Dublin and Cork.
As reported in last week’s Advertiser, a submission from Cork-based Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA ) offered to rent the Carnmore facility for €100,000 per year to establish an international pilot training hub.
Backed by AFTA owner Mark Casey, this proposal suggested 1,000 business aircraft movements through the facility, fuel services, sub-letting hangars to HEMS and other aviation services could generate revenues approaching €2 million per year, with the county collecting commercial rates and landing charges, while the city council received rent.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one senior, international aviation expert said Galway Airport had the potential to save “maybe hundreds of extra lives each year” with shorter refuelling routes for rescue helicopters based in Sligo making 200 landings at University College Hospital annually. He also said the airport was an unique asset.
“There’s just nowhere remotely like this for sale around Europe, with empty hangars, a 1,200 metre serviced runway removed from built-up areas, and sea space nearby to fly next gen, experimental electric aircraft safely,” he said.
In a joint statement, Galway city and county councils said its expert panel, made up of Joe McGrath, former Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council, Joe Greaney of KMS auctioneers, and PJ Power of PPG surveyors, concluded none of the six proposals they assessed met all criteria specified “at the standard required to progress the future development of a site of this scale and strategic significance”.
Senior city council sources said no proposal gelled with county plans to develop an enterprise zone linking Athenry with the city’s outskirts.
The two councils would now look at international best practice to establish a new “entity” with local, national, and private sector input to determine the airport’s future in accordance with the county development plan, and regional economic policy.
Galway Airport’s Aviation and Innovation Advocacy Group (GAAIAG ), made up of individuals committed to retaining Carnmore as an air asset, said it welcomed the decision by both Galway County and City Councils to reject the six bids to purchase Galway airport.
“We view this as a wise decision on the part of both councils,” said group chairperson Fidelma Healy Eames.
“All of the feedback we have gleaned to date from many sources confirms that Galway Airport represents a significant piece of strategic infrastructure for our region. This is the stated view of Galway Chamber of Commerce too. With infrastructure valued at up to €100m, we are very aware that if we lose the runway, we’ll never get it back,” she said.
The group wants Carnmore to serve essential emergency services, provide business connectivity, facilitate pilot training, and become a hub for airside-enabled innovation and research projects.
GAAIAG member Eamon O’Donoghue is a surgeon in University Hospital Galway. He says any new ‘entity’ set up to decide on Carnmore’s future should include the councils, State agencies, medical and aviation specialists, educational institutions and other partners together to develop a coordinated plan.
“From a medical perspective, I believe there is a compelling case to examine the airport’s potential to support aeromedical services, emergency patient transfers, critical care and urgent specialty access. Its existing aviation infrastructure offers an opportunity that deserves careful assessment with the relevant health and emergency services.”
