RAF Nimrod Spy Planes ‘To Be Withdrawn
Written by admin on March 9th, 2009
The RAF’s Nimrod spy plane fleet is to be partially withdrawn from overseas operations until early summer to undergo safety modifications, the defence minister says.
An inquiry into a 2006 Nimrod crash in Afghanistan, which killed 14 people, recommended the replacement of fuel seals and engine bay hot-air ducts to improve the safety of the fleet.
The modification work was due to be completed by March 31, but has been delayed, said defence minister Bob Ainsworth.
Technical experts have advised that Nimrods should not fly after the end of March unless they have had their hot-air ducts replaced.
The temporary halt to overseas operations has been ordered to speed the modification programme.
The MoD said: “Our technical experts have advised that in order that the risks involved in operating the aircraft remain tolerable and as low as reasonably practicable, no Nimrods should fly after 31 March, 2009, unless their hot air ducts have been replaced.
“Our priority now is to ensure that we modify the remaining aircraft as quickly as possible so we are temporarily withdrawing Nimrod aircraft from overseas operations until early summer.
“We have reassessed the situation… and concluded that the Nimrod fleet remains airworthy and safe to fly, subject to the measures outlined above.”
Meanwhile, routine UK-based flights will be reduced because of the reallocation of engineers from the Nimrods’ home base RAF Kinloss to the modification programme at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
Tags: Afghanistan, air defence, Air Force, aircraft, British, Defence, MoD, Nimrod Spy Planes, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom
