A GOVERNMENT jet has more flying hours than any other aircraft in the world, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil.
He said that the Gulfstream 1V jet was still in operation.
“That was acquired in 1991 and all of my colleagues would know my views on it. The aircraft is 16 years old and has flown more than 11,000 hours.
“I am told there is not an aircraft in the world, or the Third World, that has flown that number of hours.”
Mr Ahern added that another Government aircraft, the Learjet, was bought at the beginning of the EU presidency in 2004, providing a service for short and medium haul flights.
“It has proven extremely reliable and has been used on the European missions.
“It has its faults because one cannot stand up and it does not have a toilet.
“It gets from A to B, for which I have been very grateful many times.”
