§ Mr KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 54, if he will list the number of Sea King helicopters currently in service with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by year of entry into service; how many Sea Kings have suffered cracks in the lift frame, by year of entry into service; how many have suffered cracking to the lift frame more than once; and if he will make a statement. [30812]
§ Mr. SoamesThe information requested is provided in the table:
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Aircraft delivered currently in service Aircraft delivered 1 or more cracks Aircraft with repeat cracks Year RN RAF Total1 1969 8 — 8 1 1970 15 — 16 3 1971 13 — 11 5 1972 5 — 5 2 1973 — — — — 1974 — — — — 1975 — — — — 1976 5 — 4 — 1977 4 3 8 1 1978 — 11 11 8 1979 5 1 6 1 1980 9 1 10 3 1981 10 — 9 4
Aircraft delivered currently in service Aircraft delivered 1 or more cracks Aircraft with repeat cracks Year RN RAF Total1 1982 8 — 6 1 1983 1 — — — 1984 10 — 7 1 1985 6 3 6 — 1986 9 — 5 — 1987 3 — 2 — 1988 — — — — 1989 2 — 1 — 1990 6 — 1 1 1991 — — — — 1992 — — — — 1993 — — — — 1994 — — — — 1995 — — — — 1996 — 6 — — Total 119 25 116 31 1 Includes aircraft no longer in service. Although the problem of lift frame cracking has a transitory effect on aircraft availability, the repair load is manageable, and there is no question of its affecting the ability of the Sea King to continue in service until its planned out-of-service date. Furthermore, the aircraft design is tolerant of failures and this, combined with rigorous periodic in-service inspections, maintains the good airworthiness record of the Sea King structure. No aircraft accidents have been caused by Sea King lift frame or associated component failure.