Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 0:34:53 GMT 12
From TVNZ's site
Safety issues over Hercules
Mar 6, 2007
The Air Force insists safety is not being compromised while it decides whether or not to install fire resistant foam in its fleet of Hercules.
The issue surfaced after a single shot downed an RAF Hercules in Iraq, killing 10 men. The British government promised to install the foam as a priority but only a handful of planes have had it fitted.
The Hercules C-130s carry troops in and out of the world's trouble spots but questions are being asked about their safety.
"Certainly we do everything we can to make sure the aircraft is not put in a situation where it's likely to be shot down," says RNZAF Air Commodore Peter Stockwell.
After the British Hercules was shot down it was recommended a special explosive suppressant foam be urgently fitted to make the fuel tanks safer. A bullet had pierced the fuel tank and an explosion ripped off part of the wing, crippling the plane.
The New Zealand Air Force says the foam is just one safety option being looked at locally and it has its disadvantages.
"There's about a 5% degradation in fuel carrying capability and payload which would be critical to us on some of our other critical legs. For example flying down to Antarctica would compromise our payload capability down to the ice," says Stockwell.
NZ's five Hercules have been flying into East Timor, southern Afghanistan and Tonga. They are about to get a major upgrade and any new safety features could be fitted during the general overhaul
Safety issues over Hercules
Mar 6, 2007
The Air Force insists safety is not being compromised while it decides whether or not to install fire resistant foam in its fleet of Hercules.
The issue surfaced after a single shot downed an RAF Hercules in Iraq, killing 10 men. The British government promised to install the foam as a priority but only a handful of planes have had it fitted.
The Hercules C-130s carry troops in and out of the world's trouble spots but questions are being asked about their safety.
"Certainly we do everything we can to make sure the aircraft is not put in a situation where it's likely to be shot down," says RNZAF Air Commodore Peter Stockwell.
After the British Hercules was shot down it was recommended a special explosive suppressant foam be urgently fitted to make the fuel tanks safer. A bullet had pierced the fuel tank and an explosion ripped off part of the wing, crippling the plane.
The New Zealand Air Force says the foam is just one safety option being looked at locally and it has its disadvantages.
"There's about a 5% degradation in fuel carrying capability and payload which would be critical to us on some of our other critical legs. For example flying down to Antarctica would compromise our payload capability down to the ice," says Stockwell.
NZ's five Hercules have been flying into East Timor, southern Afghanistan and Tonga. They are about to get a major upgrade and any new safety features could be fitted during the general overhaul
