HC Deb 30 November 1994 vol 250 cc775-6W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of repair to the aircraft which crashed on landing on the island of Islay on 29 June; what percentage was met from public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

The cost of repairs to BAe 146 ZE700 as with all other similar work is commercially confidential. All costs will be met from the Defence budget.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of the repair work undertaken on Chinook ZA717 following its accident in the Falkland Islands in July 1989; on what date the decision was taken not to complete the repair work; and for what purpose the aircraft is currently being used.

Mr. Soames

The damage to the Chinook ZA717 was such that the aircraft was judged, on 4 August 1989, to be beyond economic repair. Since no repairs were initiated, no repair costs were incurred. The aircraft is used at present for battle damage repair instruction.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all accidents to Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft in 1994, indicating the damage category in each case; and if he will make a statement on the accident rate in respect of Tornado aircraft in 1994.

Mr. Soames

There have been six accidents involving RAF Tornados in 1994, as follows:

Date Damage category
Tornado F3 7 June Cat 5
Tornado F3 8 July Cat 5
Tornado GR1 19 July Cat 5
Tornado GR1A/GR1 1 August GR1A-Cat 5; GR1-Cat 3
Tornado GR1A 1 September Cat 5
Tornado GR1A 19 September Cat 5

We have had an extremely low loss rate over the Tornado's 19 years of service. The 1994 Tornado accident rate will be published in due course in the 1995 edition of United Kingdom Defence statistics along with annual accident rates of other military aircraft.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those aircraft types in Royal Air Force service which are fitted with an accident data recorder.

Mr. Soames

RAF aircraft fitted with accident data recorders are:

  • Andover
  • BAe 146
  • Harrier GR7
  • Hawk
  • Nimrod
  • Sentry
  • Tornado GR1
  • Tornado F3
  • Tristar
  • Tucano
  • VC 10 C1