€7.3 million in EU assistance to be used for new patrol aircraft

lgalea

Aug 10th 2009, 22:11

Will the aircraft inform the Libyans to pick them up or is it simply going to inform the AFM to bring them to Malta?

Muscat. Pat

Aug 10th 2009, 21:35

An other nail into Malta's coffin. Who needs patrol boats with all these illegal immigrants phoning AFM to be picked up? The Eu and Italians are not stupid! We are the ones with a superior IQ!

Joe Vella

Aug 10th 2009, 18:40

@ P. Cassar Ever crossed your mind that the entities you have mentioned are objective in their criticism, reports and submission while the Gloom and Doom crowd always sound as the end of the World is just around the corner. That is the difference my friend.

P.Cassar

Aug 10th 2009, 17:08

@J Vella Dear Joe has it ever passed your mind that the doom and gloom crowd includes The EU reports (SEVERAL and on DIVERSE topics) Mepa's Auditor The ombudsman Several NGO's The Auditor general Several Unions (one of them the UHM itself which is on industrial action! etc etc I give you another month or two and you too will be on this side.

Joe Vella

Aug 10th 2009, 15:27

Every passing day the Gloom and Doom crowd demonstrate that they have a one track mind. That is to be critical of everything that is under the Sun. I cannot understand the narrow mindedness being demonstrated by the Gloom and Doom Crowd.

Who says that the new patrol aircraft couldn't be used in search and rescue mission if another tragedy similar to the Shimshar hits the Maltese Islands, God forbid?

P.Cassar

Aug 10th 2009, 14:35

@C Scerri
Man you're dead right about the computation
BUT the basic argument is still that we will be forking out another 2.4 million (besides DIGGING IN OUR POCKETS FOR hundreds of other millions for projects that the Govt is coming up with every other day) just to bring in more illigal immigrants.
THAT BOTHERS, NOT TO SAY INFURIATES MANY, MANY MALTESE.

Alexander Brincat

Aug 10th 2009, 14:33

I think Alex Dalli is right. It is a big achievement for the AFM to purchase a better aircraft. However we must all hope that all the money will be used to purchase pretty damn good plane. We really hope, as taxpayers, that each and every euro cent will go on the purchase of the aircraft and not on the well renowned commissions!!! After all we are paying for it (even EU funds given to us are coming from our pockets, let's remember). But the AFM really needs such aircraft, with which the Maltese pilots can get enough experience and make advancements in the field. The fixed wing aircraft we have can be used for general aviation purposes and are not suitable for the military. Helicopters are now ageing pretty fast too. So, once more congratulations to the AFM.

Not all of us realise the importance of such an aircraft. Apart from the fact that illegal immigrants can be rescued faster and more efficiently, there exists also the possibility of having Maltese and other EU citizens stranded at sea. It has occurred. However may I remind the AFM for more cooperation with other Maltese pilots. Very little so far.

Ludwig Flask

Aug 10th 2009, 13:57

@ C.Scerri: good maths!

@ All: What's the summation of the running costs we as tax payers will be incured? If the government's fund is in minus from were will the remaining €2.4M be forked out, minus + minus = minus, yes?

Noel Enriquez

Aug 10th 2009, 12:46

Why is the Malta Police Force the only Police force in all of the EU not to have aircraft of its own? Neighbouring Italy Police makes use of both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft for Policing. Why is Mater Dei the only primary state hospital in the EU not to have aircraft of its own on stand by? Why does the Malta Police Force not have any PROPER launches of it's own for sea patrols? The AFM's job is to safeguard the sovreignty of the Republic of Malta. The Police's job is to protect life and property, the prevention of crime and the arraignment of perpetrators over the Maltese territory, and that includes 12 Nautical Miles of sea, why isn't there an EU sponsored Police aircraft/launch?! Why is a Military helicopter called in to transfer urgent patients from Gozo to Malta, and not have an EU sponsored health department helicopter? Why isn't there any redundancy in the government entities? Ghalfejn dejjem nillapazzaw? This assistance has only been given to the AFM because it suits Brussels. We do not have helicopters for the police or for hospital's A&E department because the internal issues of Malta is not Brussels' concern that's why!!

C.Scerri

Aug 10th 2009, 12:13

@ P Cassar

You might need some maths lessons - at 75% co-finance the state has to fork out 2.4M (total 9.7M)

John Portelli

Aug 10th 2009, 11:54

WHY GIVE $7.3 IN ASSISTANCE? THIS PROVES THAT THIS IS A PLAN TO BRING MORE INTO EUROPE.THROWING PETROL OF THE FIRE.THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION.

Alexander Dalli

Aug 10th 2009, 11:39

I am a proud AFM Pilot. Well done AFM....what a quantum leap. I remember the days of the four 47G2's to the Bird Dog and the ealy morning and late sunset patrols. Thanks to the boys who are behind this project and I wish I could fly such a plane in procection of Malta's and EU interests!

Roy Perry

Aug 10th 2009, 11:20

The AFM already have two maritime patrol aircraft (Britten-Norman BN2A Islanders). Perhaps someone can advise what type the new aircraft is to be and whether it is new or comes with a complete support package.

It would be foolhardy to acquire a surveillance aircraft without including the costs of at least five years maintenance and crew training.

Charles Sammut

Aug 10th 2009, 11:20

I am not at all surprised that the EU is funding this patrol aircraft. It will mean that illegal immigrants will be brough to Malta and not allowed to continue to Mainland Europe. Then once every blue moon, some country will take a few immigrants from us and we will be ever so grateful and Dr Simon Busuttil can continue living his voluntary burden sharing delusion.

Well, Franco Frattini had been quite explicit about Malta's fate.

Mary Ann Borg

Aug 10th 2009, 11:13

Well done to the government and AFM. Malta needs such planes because all our neighbours have patrol aircraft that are able to detect and follow situations while we, the Maltese, are only aware of matters when things are already too late for us to do anything. To the socialists here, just one question: Do you really think that if Joseph ever gets to power he will not avail himself (on behalf of Malta) of EU funds simply because Malta will have to fork out the remaining quarter?

Martin Abela

Aug 10th 2009, 10:16

The AFM is a clear expert in obtaining EU funds and should be lauded, they have updated their maritime fleet in record time.
I hope that we will see a similar approach from the Police, who do not seem very interested in EU funds , that is a shame because those are monies saved from our budget, MJHA wake up and push for fund hunting, the Police is in dire straits and you all know it.

cdelia

Aug 10th 2009, 10:11

what is the point it only serves to bring them home safely

Joe Fenech

Aug 10th 2009, 09:55

Yes, and what are you going to do to illegal boats, shoot them??? A plane is not we need but strong politicians made of steel!

P.Cassar

Aug 10th 2009, 09:46

If my workings are right we STILL HAVE TO FORK OUT 10 MILLION EUROS. WHERE ARE ALL THESE MILLIONS THAT THE GOVT IS CONTINUALLY MENTIONING COMING FROM IF NOT FROM OUR POCKETS?????

WORSE THAN THAT: What's happening once the aircraft spots illegal immigrants approaching Malta...... it will just call AFM to go out and get them. SO THIS MONEY IS SERVING THEM NOT US!!!!!

john micallef

Aug 10th 2009, 09:42

this financing is rather to detect and bring to malta more illegal immigrants.