An estimated 200 helicopters are now operating in Ireland, and the Irish Aviation Authority plans to introduce new commercial helicopter lanes in the airspace over the greater Dublin area after a recent traffic surge One of the most popular choppers currently in the country is the Augusta 109, which costs about 4m and is favoured by tycoons including developer Sean Mulryan, Ben Dunne and Larry Goodman.

A clutch of helicopters worth up to 10m are scheduled to arrive over the next few years.

Demand from property developers keen to fly themselves has helped make the Heli-Air Robinson agency in Britain, one-quarter of whose clients are Irish, the busiest in the world.