Aer Arann performs its own line maintenance, with base checks contracted to TAT at Dinard in northern France, said COO Peter McKenna. Components go to sister company Aer Arann Islands in Connemara. The airline employs 25 maintenance staff, and generally adds two or three people with each additional aircraft.

Experienced technicians are plentiful in mainland Europe, but McKenna acknowledged difficulty in finding them locally. In-house training is available and “experienced technicians require [only] about six months on type to get up to speed,” he said. Aer Arann also subcontracts mechanics from the Netherlands. Staff also have come from the Irish Air Corps and other European operators.

The Dublin facility also provides continuation training, sometimes using outsourced specialists. Recent advertisements for ATR 42/72 line-maintenance technicians call
for possession of “JAA 66 B1 or B2” licenses. Salaries run in the region of e30,000 to e65,000 (about $33,450 to $72,500), depending on experience and qualification.