Air Corps '50% short' of technicians; forced to spend €2.3m on external contractors in 2025

The Oireachtas defence committee has heard about the 'depth of frustration, anger and disillusionment among these highly skilled and experienced technicians and inspectors'. Picture: Defence Forces/PA

The Defence Forces has less than half the number of skilled Air Corps technicians that it should have, the Oireachtas defence committee has heard.

The association representing rank-and-file personnel said more than €2.3m was spent last year in hiring external contractors — mainly from abroad — to carry out crucial maintenance and inspections.

Gerard Guinan, general secretary of PDFORRA, representing over 5,500 personnel, told the committee there has been an “exodus” of young men and women over recent decades as they were unable to sustain a life in the Defence Forces.

He said, in recent years the situation for his members, in terms of pay and allowances, had “somewhat stabilised and improved”. But he said some cohorts of personnel had been “overlooked”, in particular technicians in the Air Corps.

This is having a “real negative impact” on their lives in terms of recruitment and retention and he has seen this for himself when he met them in person, twice in the last month.

“I have no doubt about the depth of frustration, anger and disillusionment among these highly skilled and experienced technicians and inspectors,” Mr Guinan said.

“Their expertise is highly sought after across aviation, pharmaceuticals and other technical industries, where significantly better pay is readily available.” 

He revealed the current staffing crisis in the service:

• The Air Corps has a combined establishment of 323 aircraft inspectors and technicians — comprising of 101 inspectors and 216 technicians;
• Only 150 of these positions are filled — 55 inspectors and 95 technicians 

Mr Guinan said: “The current shortage of personnel responsible for maintaining, inspecting and releasing aircraft for flight is increasing the risk profile for flight safety and threatening operational capability."

He said that, in 2025, ramp operations and line maintenance support for the Flight Training School reportedly cost €981,228, while line and base maintenance support in No. 3 Operations Wing cost approximately €1.34m.

“That is more than €2.3 million per year across those two examples alone,” he said. But he said there is a bigger cost.

“An Air Force cannot remain truly sovereign if it becomes increasingly dependent on foreign contractors to maintain, support and sustain its aircraft. This is not simply a pay issue; it is a strategic vulnerability. 

In a national emergency, the State must be able to rely on its own trained personnel and assured capability. 

Lt Col Conor King, general secretary of RACO, representing commissioned officers, said the strength of the organisation is roughly 2,000 below its establishment figure of 9,700 and almost 4,000 below the Commission on Defence Forces’ LOA 2 in 2022 (11,500).

“LOA2 is supposed to be reached by 2028 but will not be met until at least 2035 at the earliest,” he said.

• Cormac O’Keeffe, security correspondent