§ 22. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum estimated life of wiring in military aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [100975]
§ Mr. SpellarReplacement intervals for electrical wiring are not prescribed in advance. Wiring is rigorously inspected during maintenance and replaced as necessary.
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§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military aircraft have been grounded as a result of advice on the safety of Kapton wiring. [100925]
§ Mr. SpellarNone. However, following two instances of electrical fires on RAF Harrier aircraft in 1991, the Harrier GR5 and GR7 fleets were restricted to operational flying only for a short period. Subsequent investigation showed that the fires had occurred as a result of the mis-routeing of wires. Modifications were subsequently introduced to improve the electrical installation.