In the autumn of 2006, I was head of research with Goodbody Stockbrokers and was responsible for the aviation beat as an equity analyst. That year, our firm had been selected in the syndicate formed to advise on a stock-market listing for Aer Lingus, one of Europe’s oldest airlines.  My own interest in Aer Lingus began as a teenager. Their Boeing 737s and BAC 1-11s flying over the house in Cork triggered a lifelong interest in aviation. In 1978, my first overseas holiday was with Aer Lingus to London, where I spent a week plane spotting on the roof of…