Fed: Safety of ageing fleet called into question

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2005
Fed: Safety of ageing fleet called into question

The safety of Australia's ageing fleet of navy helicopters will be the focus of investigations
into a crash which killed nine Australian defence force troops in Indonesia.

The federal government is facing heavy criticism for its decision not to replace the
30-year-old Sea King choppers after one of the aircraft plummeted into a soccer field
during a mercy mission on Indonesia's quake ravaged island of Nias.

It's the worst naval flying accident in Australian history -- and Australia's deadliest
military accident since 18 servicemen died in the crash of two Black Hawk helicopters
in 1996.

NEIL JAMES, the Australian Defence Association executive director, has told the Nine
Network the Sea Kings would have been replaced earlier if enough funding had been allocated.

When other countries are retiring the helicopters, the government has extended the
life of the helicopters until 2015.

But defence force chief PETER COSGROVE and Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD are standing
by the Sea Kings.

Mr HOWARD, who toured tsunami ravaged parts of Indonesia in the same helicopter earlier
this year, says there's nothing to suggest there is anything wrong with the aircraft.

Witnesses to the crash say the helicopter's engine died while it was 30 or 40 metres
above the ground, before it crashed cockpit first into the field.

They have told ABC radio they heard the engine die before the helicopter crashed into
the ground and exploded into a fireball a few minutes later.

The bodies of the seven men and two women are expected to be flown home to Australia on Tuesday.

AAP RTV sm/ea

KEYWORD: CHOPPER (ON BOARD THE HMAS KANIMBLA)

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