Thursday, 31 October, 2002
Army grounds Apache helicopters
The helicopter is based on a US model
Dozens of the Army's new ?3bn Apache attack helicopters will be kept in storage for four years due to a shortage of trained pilots, the government's spending watchdog has said.
Eleven of the 25 helicopters so far delivered - out of an order for 67 - have been mothballed in a move described as "wasteful" by the National Audit Office.
The NAO's report warned that although the Apaches were being delivered on time, a private finance initiative (PFI) deal to train aircrew was three years late.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said: "It seems as though the procurement strategy for the Apache was 'buy first, think later'.
"For 11 top-of-the-range Apaches to sit in storage with no pilots to fly them until 2007 because of a bodged PFI delivery is wasteful."
Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin blamed the government for the delays.
"The delays in this programme mean that we have more than an entire squadron of attack helicopters sitting in sheds. They should be flying by now," he said.
'Reduced effectiveness'
The delay means dozens of aircraft will have to be stored away in hangars while the completion date for the initial training programme for 144 pilots is put back from April 2004 to February 2007.
The NAO warned the delay in training also put in jeopardy the delivery of 16 more Apache helicopters, scheduled for February 2005.
That would reduce the Army's capability, it added.
Contractual problems over the supply of spares could mean the Apaches kept in storage may have to be used for parts.
The initial order for 67 Apaches, placed with Westland Helicopters in 1995, was said to offer the greatest advance in Army effectiveness since the tank.
A separate PFI agreement was reached with ATIL - a company jointly-owned by Westland and the Apache's US manufacturer Boeing - to cover the training.
But delivery of the hi-tech flight simulator was delayed by 17 months, pushing the start date for pilot training from 2001 to September 2003.
The length of the training courses was extended from 15 weeks to 26, because of the ?45m helicopter's complexity and the UK's poor weather conditions for flying.
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Army grounds Apache helicopters
The helicopter is based on a US model
Dozens of the Army's new ?3bn Apache attack helicopters will be kept in storage for four years due to a shortage of trained pilots, the government's spending watchdog has said.
Eleven of the 25 helicopters so far delivered - out of an order for 67 - have been mothballed in a move described as "wasteful" by the National Audit Office.
The NAO's report warned that although the Apaches were being delivered on time, a private finance initiative (PFI) deal to train aircrew was three years late.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said: "It seems as though the procurement strategy for the Apache was 'buy first, think later'.
"For 11 top-of-the-range Apaches to sit in storage with no pilots to fly them until 2007 because of a bodged PFI delivery is wasteful."
Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin blamed the government for the delays.
"The delays in this programme mean that we have more than an entire squadron of attack helicopters sitting in sheds. They should be flying by now," he said.
'Reduced effectiveness'
The delay means dozens of aircraft will have to be stored away in hangars while the completion date for the initial training programme for 144 pilots is put back from April 2004 to February 2007.
The NAO warned the delay in training also put in jeopardy the delivery of 16 more Apache helicopters, scheduled for February 2005.
That would reduce the Army's capability, it added.
Contractual problems over the supply of spares could mean the Apaches kept in storage may have to be used for parts.
The initial order for 67 Apaches, placed with Westland Helicopters in 1995, was said to offer the greatest advance in Army effectiveness since the tank.
A separate PFI agreement was reached with ATIL - a company jointly-owned by Westland and the Apache's US manufacturer Boeing - to cover the training.
But delivery of the hi-tech flight simulator was delayed by 17 months, pushing the start date for pilot training from 2001 to September 2003.
The length of the training courses was extended from 15 weeks to 26, because of the ?45m helicopter's complexity and the UK's poor weather conditions for flying.