Vol. 566 No. 5
10 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether it is acceptable that up to half of the Air Corps helicopters can be grounded on occasions due to maintenance problems; the steps being taken to replace aircraft with serious reliability problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13073/03]
The Air Corps operates a number of different helicopter types, which in turn operate in a wide variety of roles. The operational demands on these helicopters increase in intensity as the summer months approach with the attendant arrival of more favourable weather and longer hours of daylight.
Accordingly, the Air Corps tends to arrange routine annual and programmable maintenance procedures in the winter months due to these months featuring poorer weather and longer hours of darkness. This plan can, and does, ensure that the maximum number of operational flying hours are available when most needed.
Maintenance falls into three broad categories: scheduled, unscheduled and routine-daily. The broad annualised maintenance plan as outlined will see somewhat more helicopters on the ground during scheduled maintenance during the winter months. This number can then grow when unscheduled occurrences arise in the operational fleet. These events then cause the number of helicopters unserviceable on any particular day to grow. However, most of these issues are readily resolved, resulting in the helicopter being rapidly returned to service.
I am advised that no helicopter is despatched on air operations without satisfying a rigorous routine-daily maintenance programme to ensure that it is airworthy.
I am also advised that the General Officer commanding the Air Corps is satisfied that none of the helicopters in the current fleet suffers from what is described by the Deputy as a serious reliability problem.
