§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons flight data and cockpit voice recorders were not fitted to the RAF Chinook HC2 fleet upon its entry into service. [64561]
§ Mr. IngramThe Chinook was introduced into RAF service in 1980 at a time when it was not the Ministry of Defence's policy to install flight data recorders into military aircraft. Since then the policy has changed and such equipment is now installed in all new aircraft.
The decision on retrofitting existing aircraft is considered carefully against a number of factors, such as the type's remaining in-service life, flight safety record, cost and operational considerations. As a result of such considerations, a decision was taken (before the Mull of Kintyre accident) to install an accident data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder, as part of the helicopter health and usage monitoring system modification. This modification has now been installed in the entire in—service Chinook fleet.