Sky's the limit for Ireland's growing fleet of helicopters

THE number of helicopters registered in Ireland has doubled in the last five years, it emerged yesterday.

Property developers are using helicopters to get a bird's eye view of sites while other wealthy owners are using them to avoid traffic and fly to the Galway Races.

According to new figures from the Irish Aviation Authority, the number of helicopters registered has risen from 56 in 2000 to 113 now. The most high-profile helicopter owners are businessmen like Ben Dunne, Michael Smurfit and Larry Goodman.