§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the sum invoiced to his Department by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Air Foyle Antonov 124–100 aircraft to Transport four Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit on Friday 3 March. [114744]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 15 March 2000]: I am withholding details of the sum invoiced to the MOD by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Antonov 124–100 under Exemption 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of RAF Puma helicopters which can be carried in(a) Hercules C130K, (b) Hercules C130J, (c) Boeing C17 and (d) Antonov 492W 124–100 transport aircraft; and how many refuelling stops each aircraft requires, carrying its respective maximum complements of Puma helicopters, on a flight from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit. [114745]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 15 March 2000]: The Hercules C130K Mk1 cannot carry the Puma helicopter. Both the Hercules C130K Mk3 and the C130J can carry one Puma helicopter and would normally require three en-route stops to complete the flight from Brize Norton to SAAF Base Heudspruit.
According to information publicly available the Boeing C17 is capable of carrying three Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.
The AN124–100 is capable of carrying four Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.
The degree to which the Puma is dismantled dictates whether or not the maximum number of airframes can be loaded into transport aircraft. The requirement for en-route stops can vary according to prevailing weather conditions.