This article is from page 5 of the 2006-04-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
A FRESH row has broken out over military use of Shannon airport, with revelations that Russia has been using the facility to export military helicopters to South America.
The revelations come in the wake of newspaper pictures, which showed USchartered Antanov cargo planes on the runway at Shannon. These planes are used to carry three military helicopters bound for Israel.
The Russian cargo flight landed at the airport on February 20, one week before the US plane. The flight was carrying a cargo of Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters bound for Venezuela.
The use of Shannon by Russian flights carrying the helicopters has been confirmed by Transport Minister, Martin Cullen.
The overall consignment from Russia included 20 Mi-17’s, mostly used for troop transport, 10 Mi-35’s assault helicopters and three Mi-26ts, the heaviest and most powerful helicopters in the world.
In a statement, Minister Cullen said that an inquiry launched after it was revealed that the US flights carrying choppers had landed, had now been upgraded to “a review.”
The minister’s statement said that under international aviation rules, “aircraft making technical stops do not need an authorisation. In Ireland, however, permission is required if munitions are being carried.”
He said that the Russian flight notification had “indicated that no dangerous goods or munitions will be carried on board. In the course of our enquiries the department has learned that helicopters were, in fact, carried.”
The latest controversy also follows claims that CIA planes landing at Shannon are carrying prisoners bound for torture.
The Green Party has called for an independent probe into the matter.
Green Party chairman, John Gormley asked whether “the Foreign Minister of the Taoiseach knew that these killing machines were exported from Shannon?”