§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when(a) the Royal Navy Sea Harrier T4 which crashed near Wellington, Somerset, on 23 February and (b) the Royal Air Force Tornado GR I which crashed near Issam, Germany, on 26 February last has a major service; who carried it out; and if he will make a statement. [19312]
§ Mr. SoamesAll Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft are maintained in accordance with the appropriate authorised servicing cycle and approved maintenance procedures. Harrier T Mk 4 XZ445 underwent its last scheduled basic maintenance, the deepest appropriate level of maintenance, in 1994. This was carried out by the Maintenance Group Defence Agency at RAF St. Athan. The aircraft's last scheduled servicing was carried out on the parent squadron in January 1996. The servicing policy 449W for RAF Tornados was explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 8 March 1996, Official Report, columns 368–69.
Tornado GR1 ZD845's last major servicing was carried out in August 1995 at the operating unit. The separate boards of inquiry into these aircraft losses are on-going; a summary of the board's findings will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current damage and repair status of Tornado GR1 serial number ZD844; what repair work is schedules for this aircraft; where such repairs will be carried out; and what is the expected date of re-entry to service of this aircraft. [19756]
§ Mr. SoamesTornado GR1 ZD844 was involved in a mid-air collision over Canada on 1 August 1994. The aircraft, which landed safely, sustained varying degrees of damage to the left-hand engine intake, engine bay door, main landing gear, fuselage and left wing. Repairs to the damaged wing are being carried out by the Maintenance Group Defence Agency at RAF St. Athan. Repairs to the fuselage are being undertaken using service manpower at RAF Marham. It is expected that ZD844 will re-enter service in 1997.