Plans for upgrade of Cork airfield to improve air ambulance services put on hold following appeal

Seán McCárthaigh

Plans for an upgrade of a runway and facilities at an aerodrome in north Cork, which will facilitate the nighttime use of air ambulances, have been placed on hold following an objection by local residents.

An appeal has been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála against the decision of Cork County Council to grant planning permission for the construction of a 740-metre hard-surfaced runway, new hangar and helipad at Rathcool Aerodrome located between Mallow and Millstreet, Co Cork.

The plans by Rathcool Flying Club also provide for a 148-metre taxiway, the construction of a new operations building and base for paramedics following the demolition of several existing buildings.

The HSE Air Ambulance Service has two helicopters and one road ambulance stationed at the site with two pilots, two paramedics and one doctor present during daytime hours.

However, the service, which operates an annual average of 623 flights, cannot currently operate in darkness as no lighting is available.

Rathcool Flying Club claimed the aerodrome was ideally located for an air ambulance service in terms of maximising the coverage of the southern area of Ireland.

The club projected that the number of times the lighting of the aerodrome would be used to facilitate a helicopter landing would be twice a week.

It stated that no nighttime flying would be undertaken by the club.

It also pointed out that helicopters sometimes cannot return to base after transferring a patient to a hospital until the following day because of the restriction on nighttime flights.

A previous application for the construction of a hard surfaced runway was refused by Cork County Council in January 2024 over environmental and flooding concerns.

Consultants for the applicant said the plans, which involve a 30-degree realignment of the existing grass runway, would provide several key benefits which would result in improved safety of operations at the aerodrome.

They include increased landing and take-off distances, better use of prevailing south-westerly winds and further separation from residential areas, mountains and wind farms.

John McCarthy, a consultant surveyor who submitted the appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála on behalf of several local residents, stressed that they had no issue with the operation of the air ambulance base at the aerodrome.

The group claims the current facility appeared to be sufficient for the operation of the air ambulance service.

However, McCarthy said the concern of the residents was the large-scale commercial development which seems to be taking place with the entire thrust of the flying club’s application on increasing its operations.

Rathcool Flying Club estimates that around 250 visiting aircraft land at the aerodrome every year, while it anticipated its membership would increase from its current number of 43 to up to 60.

McCarthy claimed the projected increase in flight movements by 2029 would more than double from the current number to 3,848 flights per annum which raised concerns in terms of extra noise and negative environmental impacts.

The residents have called for a cap to be placed on the number of overall flights as well as the number of nighttime flights.

In their appeal, the residents also expressed concern about potential flooding of the area, given its proximity to the River Blackwater and its tendency to regularly flood once or twice a year.

They also raised the issue of customs and excise controls in anticipation of increased aircraft movement.

In an earlier submission to Cork County Council, the group claimed the planning application might be a “trojan horse” for the development of other businesses including an expansion of flight training.

They also expressed concern about the impact of increased flights by fixed-wing aircraft on livestock in the vicinity.

In its grant of planning permission, Cork County Council imposed a condition which restricts the annual number of flights to 4,499.

The plans have been supported by local Fianna Fáil councillor, Bernard Moynihan in a submission in which he said the aerodrome was “a valuable asset for the region.”

Support for the proposed changes have also been voiced by local Fianna Fáil TD, Michael Moynihan and Fine Gael MEP, Seán Kelly.