§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of Lynx helicopters by the armed forces following the Civil Aviation Authority action on grounding.
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§ Mr. StanleyFollowing tests on the tail rotor of the Lynx aircraft which revealed a source of unexpectedly high stress on the control mechanism, the Civil Aviation Authority and Westlands Limited recommended on 18 November that flying by Westland 30 and Lynx aircraft, which have a common power plant and controls, should be restricted to operationally necessary flights only, with hourly inspections of the tail rotor.
As a result of further work Westlands was able to issue guidance on 24 November following which it is hoped to be able to resume shortly non-operational flying, subject to hourly inspections, and operational flying with some limitations, but less frequent inspections. We are awaiting further advice from Westlands, which is urgently seeking a permanent solution to this problem.