Chinook Helicopters (Hansard, 1 March 2004)

§ David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the(a) functional and (b) operational differences are between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3; [156221]

(2) how the FADEC system in the Mark 2 Chinook differs from that available to the (a) Mark 2a, (b) the Chinook 47-H and (c) the Mark 3; [156222]

(3) what problems the software changes made to FADEC on the MH47 address; what necessitated these changes; who asked for these changes to be made; what functionality they provide for the MH47 that is not available to the Mark 3 Chinook; for what reasons these changes were not incorporated in the Mark 3 FADEC; when these changes are due to be incorporated; and if he will make a statement; [156223]

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(4) whether the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook is the same as that used in the (a) Mark 2, (b) Mark 2a and (c) MH47 Chinook; what that process comprises; who was contracted to conduct this process for the (i) Mark 2, (ii) Mark 2a, (iii) MH47 and (iv) Mark 3 Chinook; to whom the contractor sub-contracted this work; and if he will make a statement; [156224]

(5) what work has been conducted on FADEC in the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter at Boscombe Down; what reports Boscombe Down has produced on the work; whether independent sub-contractors produced reports on the Mark 3 FADEC; and if he will make a statement; [156225]

(6) whether (a) Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., (b) Chandler Evans Controls Systems and (c) Boeing Helicopters Corp. have given undertakings to his Department about the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3; [156226]

(7) what problems the (a) Mark 2 Chinook, (b) Mark 2a Chinook and (c) MH47 Chinook helicopters displayed which the Mark 3 was designed to solve; [156229]

(8) what the basis was for his Department's decision to procure the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and if he will make a statement; [156230]

(9) what tests are required to (a) the aircraft as a whole and (b) component parts, on the Mark 3 Chinook prior to its gaining release to full operational service other than the flight trials being conducted at Boscombe Down; what tests are still to be completed; and when he expects this release to be granted; [156231]

(10) what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; who undertook this analysis; and what the results were. [156232]