Public and private partnerships flying high

On Sept 15, Dublin will host an aviation event that is unique and highly symbolic of Ireland’s ambition in this global industry.

It will also be a powerful illustration of how private and public enterprise can co-operate to promote a sector of strategic importance.

The plan is to host a unique form of air show. Normally, these type of events are undertaken far from a watching crowd and can become boringly repetitive. The Dublin Flightfest is altogether different.

Firstly, the 30-plus aircraft scheduled to appear will fly slowly over the Liffey at a relatively low altitude. Second, the aircraft on show are not small or light airplanes that you’ll struggle to see; these are full-blooded commercial aircraft. Imagine a rocket-propelled Tall Ships On Wings event and you’ll get the picture of what will happen.

Here are a few pertinent facts. The International Airlines Group has committed British Airway’s A380 to fly up the river. It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish these planes by their titles (A380, A330, B737 etc) but here’s the skinny on the A380:

*It’s 73m long, twice that of a blue whale;

*It’s 24m high, about the size of a 10-storey building; nIt can carry up to 850 passenger on two decks;

*Its wingspan is twice the distance flown by the Wright Brothers first flight.

This four-engine giant, the world’s largest commercial aeroplane, will head over the East Link bridge at about 400m high and hike a left at the Four Courts during its routine.

The Boeing B17 four-engine bomber from the Second World War will drone over the city, too. The Gulf Carrier Etihad is sending one of its big four jet A340s along, and Aer Lingus is putting its long-haul A330 widebody and retro A320 on display. In fact, for almost two hours, there will be a not-so-quiet parade of modern and historic aircraft over the capital.

That includes a mixture of commercial and historic aircraft together with Irish search and rescue and army helicopters.

The show itself is partly created by the Gathering but is also an endorsement of the commercial aviation prowess that has developed in Ireland. Many leading leasing companies based here, who trade civil aircraft globally, are sponsoring the event. Successful commercial aviation companies such as IAG, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Air Contractors, and Etihad are involved; no doubt because of the heavy Irish influences around their executive boards.

The overarching co-ordinator is the Irish Aviation Authority, a taxpayer-funded State enterprise that has shown its abilities to promote commercial aviation despite the challenges of the last five years.

Collaboration of this type, where progressive State institutions and ambitious private companies work together in the interests of building global competence in Ireland, is a template other industries should assess.

There is evidence that the IT, pharmaceutical, and agri-food sectors have also benefited from similar ecosystems. But in aviation it is highly advanced.

Alongside the private-public aspect of aviation there is a healthy mix of multinational and indigenous companies that spark off each other and compete in a way that improves their international capabilities and competitiveness.

The Sept 15 event is a free show. Parts of the quays along the river will be closed for the afternoon and a street festival atmosphere is likely.

I’d recommend any of the bridges between the Samuel Beckett and the O’Donovan Rossa as optimal viewing locations. Officially, about 100,000 spectators are expected for the show, but it could be much bigger as the scale of the event becomes more obvious.

* Joe Gill is director of corporate broking with Goodbody Stockbrokers. His views are personal.