History

History

The "Queen of the prop era" approaching Shannon

SRS Aviation was founded in 1962 as an American Ground Handling and Service Provider at Shannon Airport. Then named Shannon Repair Service it was taken over by Aer Lingus in 1966 but has continued to operate as an independent unit.

From then to 1999 SRS Aviation has provided both maintenance and ground handling facilities for all non-scheduled, military and corporate traffic operating through Shannon.

In 1999 the maintenance branch of SRS Aviation was acquired by United Parcel Service and is now operated as a subsidiary of UPS.

SRS Aviation is now concentrating on the provision of ground handling services and is planning further enhancements of their facilities.

The early years ... a private operated DeHavilland Rapide serviced by SRS Aviation in the 1960's.

American carrier Airlift was a major SRS customer in the early days, flying DC-7's and Canadair CL-44 props before upgrading to DC-8 jets.

Coming to the end of the big "piston prop era", this Alyemda DC-6 was overhauled by SRS in 1976.

SRS prepared many light aircraft for transatlantic ferry - this British built Beagle 206 is seen in the SRS hangar in 1969.

This ex U.S. Air Force Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser was handled by SRS when it passed through Shannon in March 1969 for use by the International Red Cross to fly in relief supplies during the Biafran war.

A Capitol Super Constellation receiving attention outside the SRS hangar in the mid 1960's.

SRS ground personnel move in to service a German Air Force DC-6 in the 1960's.

A DC-6 of Dutch carrier MartinAir departs from Shannon after a SRS handled fuel stop.

Overseas National was another U.S. airline to give plenty of business to SRS with DC-7's, Electra's and later DC-8 and DC-10 jets.

A Saturn DC-7 receiving attention in the SRS hangar in 1967.

A Yemen Airways DC-6 was another late "piston prop era" aircraft to undergo a major overhaul with SRS in 1976.

The Canadian National Aeronautical Establishment Canadair DC-4M at the SRS facility in June 1967. Over the years SRS have handled many unusual survey aircraft.

This Norwegian Air Force DeHavilland Otter is getting ready for a transatlantic ferry to Canada.

Overseas National DC-8, in a colour scheme for the American 200 years independence celebrations, outside the SRS facilities.

UPS contracted SRS Aviation to maintain its fleet of Boeing 727s. UPS eventually bought the maintenance branch which is now called Shannon MRO.

A Gulfstream II of the Panamanian Government. SRS Aviation has won international awards for its quality of handling Business Jets operated by major international companies.

A frequent guest in Shannon: British Airways' Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde - the only commercial supersonic passenger jet in active service - on a training flight.

A Boeing 757 of American Trans Air - a major SRS Aviation customer over the years.

This aircraft wearing special 25th anniversary colours.

Saudi Arabian Airlines took delivery of over 25 McDonnell Douglas MD-90's - SRS Aviation handled their transit needs in 1998-99.

Restored Douglas DC-4 of the Dutch Dakota Association on the ramp at Shannon in 1996. It was previously operated with the South African Air Force and South African Airways.

Another "old-timer" - A Lockheed Constellation of M.A.T.S. (Military Air Transport Service - USAF) was handled by SRS Aviation on a repair stop during its return flight from an air show in the U.K. in 1999.

The largest commercially operated aircraft in the world is the Russian Antonov An124 freighter. SRS provide handling services for those operated by Russian airline Volga-Dnjepr who fly them in the west in conjunction with UK freight specialist airline Heavylift.

This Boeing 717-one of pair handled by SRS Aviation in early 2000 on delivery to Greek carrier Olympic.

The "Queen of the jet era" departs from Shannon

Click on the images to enlarge.

Photos by Malcolm Nason


	SRS Aviation was founded in 1962 as an American Ground Handling and Service Provider at Shannon Airport. Then named Shannon Repair Service it was taken over by Aer Lingus in 1966 but has continued to operate as an independent unit. From then to 1999 SRS Aviation has provided both maintenance and ground handling facilities for all non-scheduled, military and corporate traffic operating through Shannon. In 1999 the maintenance branch of SRS Aviation was acquired by United Parcel Service and is now operated as a subsidiary of UPS. SRS Aviation is now concentrating on the provision of ground handling services and is planning further enhancements of their facilities.

The early years ... a private operated DeHavilland Rapide serviced by SRS Aviation in the 1960's.
	American carrier Airlift was a major SRS customer in the early days, flying DC-7's and Canadair CL-44 props before upgrading to DC-8 jets.
Coming to the end of the big "piston prop era", this Alyemda DC-6 was overhauled by SRS in 1976.
	SRS prepared many light aircraft for transatlantic ferry - this British built Beagle 206 is seen in the SRS hangar in 1969.
This ex U.S. Air Force Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser was handled by SRS when it passed through Shannon in March 1969 for use by the International Red Cross to fly in relief supplies during the Biafran war.
	A Capitol Super Constellation receiving attention outside the SRS hangar in the mid 1960's.
SRS ground personnel move in to service a German Air Force DC-6 in the 1960's.
	A DC-6 of Dutch carrier MartinAir departs from Shannon after a SRS handled fuel stop.
Overseas National was another U.S. airline to give plenty of business to SRS with DC-7's, Electra's and later DC-8 and DC-10 jets.
	A Saturn DC-7 receiving attention in the SRS hangar in 1967.
A Yemen Airways DC-6 was another late "piston prop era" aircraft to undergo a major overhaul with SRS in 1976.
	The Canadian National Aeronautical Establishment Canadair DC-4M at the SRS facility in June 1967. Over the years SRS have handled many unusual survey aircraft.
This Norwegian Air Force DeHavilland Otter is getting ready for a transatlantic ferry to Canada.
	Overseas National DC-8, in a colour scheme for the American 200 years independence celebrations, outside the SRS facilities.
UPS contracted SRS Aviation to maintain its fleet of Boeing 727s. UPS eventually bought the maintenance branch which is now called Shannon MRO.
	A Gulfstream II of the Panamanian Government. SRS Aviation has won international awards for its quality of handling Business Jets operated by major international companies.
A frequent guest in Shannon: British Airways' Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde - the only commercial supersonic passenger jet in active service - on a training flight.
	A Boeing 757 of American Trans Air - a major SRS Aviation customer over the years. This aircraft wearing special 25th anniversary colours.
Saudi Arabian Airlines took delivery of over 25 McDonnell Douglas MD-90's - SRS Aviation handled their transit needs in 1998-99.
	Restored Douglas DC-4 of the Dutch Dakota Association on the ramp at Shannon in 1996. It was previously operated with the South African Air Force and South African Airways.
Another "old-timer" - A Lockheed Constellation of M.A.T.S. (Military Air Transport Service - USAF) was handled by SRS Aviation on a repair stop during its return flight from an air show in the U.K. in 1999.
	The largest commercially operated aircraft in the world is the Russian Antonov An124 freighter. SRS provide handling services for those operated by Russian airline Volga-Dnjepr who fly them in the west in conjunction with UK freight specialist airline Heavylift.
This Boeing 717-one of pair handled by SRS Aviation in early 2000 on delivery to Greek carrier Olympic.