Shannon Sees The Triumphant Return Of Miami Air

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday April 21, 2003 09:59 by Tim Hourigan

But, hey where’s the marching band?

Earlier this year we saw some airlines leave Shannon following some spectacular direct action. “Good, Law-abiding” ‘ordinary’ airlines like World, North American and Miami Air. Just the folks you want to move your troops, DU and high grade explaosives. At the time we had Aer Rianta and some of the Chamber of Commerce lamenting their departure as tragic.Well- Good news ! One of them is back!

That’s right, Miami Air may have made an announcement that they were leavng but, now, without fanfare, they are back at Shannon.
I was out plane-spotting at Shannon industrial estate with a film crew on Wednesday 9th.
There were no obviously dodgy planes around as we set up, so they started filming background shots.
Within minutes we got the usual Garda attention. Three of us and loads of them.
(it’s amazing how many Gardai it takes to ask three people their names and addresses before watching them like fluorescent yellow hawks)
After about half an hour of filming nd watching from there we moved to the back road by Gate 17.
It was about 7:15pm, still bright out, and there were locals parked by the fence watching planes land.-

The great thing about gate 17 in daytime? Not only is it easier to see the planes, and impossible for “some people” to blind you with spotlights, but the mere presence of local people means the cops don’t put on the big display to intimidate you.

As we drive up to our spot, I see a plane come in to land.
The camera starts to roll, and I can read the markings on the lane.
It’s a Miami Air 727, clear as day and only about 150 ft from me.
Well, this is a scoop and where’s RTE eh?
So we pull up , get out all the gear, the tripods for the cameras and telescope.
The jet taxis over to the passenger terminal, accompanied by two airport police vehicles and a Garda van.
It parks in the usual spot for bandits. Down by air-bridge 14) and members of the Garda Siochana help to erect a temporary metal fence around it (like construction site barriers you can still see in)

Some of the Gardai are wearing those red bibs that normaly designate them as carrying automatic weapons.
Two Shannon Catering trucks come over to load up the plane, and the airport police vans move about while the Gardai keep vigilant watch on the airfield.
We watch, note and record all of this on broadcast quality tape.
I explain it all for the camera. The number of Gardai (about 10) the vehicles AP10 and AP15 and a Garda transit van.
But something is missing.
Why did the crew get off via the airbridge?
Why was there no red carpet to the tarmac facing a marching band?
Surely this prodigal son deserves a big welcome back?
Fattened calves are out of fashion since Foot and Mouth but some hampers of duty free wouldn’t go amiss?
Instead, it’s almost like they are sneaking them in unannounced and guarding them jealously from the attentions of the public.
More like an unwanted child than a prodigal son methinks.
But hey, in the strange world of military aviation, maybe a movable fence IS a ceremony?
I mean it’s not like Aer Lingus gets this kind of treatment whenever they land.
Hopefully Miami Air won’t be too put out by the lack of flair. After all the security welcome must have been a nice gesture put on solely for them.
Now where else would you get that type of reception put on for you?

Like the slogan says – It’s easier from Shannon”