§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the specifications for number of crew in cockpit required in contracts placed for the Hercules C130J. [113471]
§ Dr. MoonieThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Peter Keetch, dated 9 March 2000:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the specifications for number of crew required in the cockpit of the C-130J transport aircraft. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.The specification for the RAF C-130J states that the cockpit crew shall consist of a pilot and a co-pilot situated in a conventional side-by-side arrangement. In addition the specification calls for an additional crew seat aft of the pilots for the use by a third cockpit crew member should one be required for missions where high crew workload is expected.