§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if cockpit voice recorders will be fitted to the first six RAF Chinook helicopters by 30 June as set out in his answer of 16 November 1998,Official Report, columns 325–26. [84703]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 18 May 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
345WLetter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Robert Key, dated 19 May 1999:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the fitting of cockpit voice recorders to RAF Chinook helicopters. The matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.Unfortunately, continuing technical difficulties associated with the development of the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS), of which the cockpit voice recorders form an integral part, and with the integration of this equipment onto the Chinook Mkt/2a helicopters, have resulted in further slippage to the programme of which you were advised previously The difficulties have been addressed jointly by Smiths Industries, the prime contractor, and the Defence Procurement Agency. The project has passed key major milestones this year, including Design Acceptance and ground testing, and flight trials will commence shortly. We now plan on having the first six helicopters fitted by late November this year. The plan to fit the remainder of the Chinook fleet by the end of 2000, remains as previously advised.