Broken down planes leave transport squadron in 'parlous state'

12.00pm

Problems with the air force's ageing and increasingly unreliable aircraft reached a crisis earlier this month when the air force's transport squadron had no serviceable aircraft in New Zealand.

The air force's Number 40 Squadron, which operates five Hercules C130H and two Boeing 727 medium to long range transport aircraft out of Whenuapai in Auckland, had no aircraft available here on July 1 and July 4 after a series of breakdowns.

On July 2 it had one Hercules available, until that too broke down, and on July 3 it had only one Boeing available.

One Boeing has been on the ground for several weeks as air force technicians try to figure out how to fix a persistent leak in an auxiliary fuel tank.

One of the Hercules broke down in Canada when the fan blades in one of its four T56 turbo prop engines was found to be at risk of disintegrating. That aircraft was on the ground for at least two weeks when spares sent over to fix the problem were held up by American customs.

When other Hercules were checked, another in New Zealand also became unserviceable with a similar turbo-fan problem.

One of the Hercules was out of action when it spent 2-1/2 months longer in a deep service than it should have because of maintenance problems associated with its age and lack of reliability.

Another Hercules was unable to fly when a problem was found with its compass and navigation systems in Darwin.

The other Hercules in the fleet spent time in the maintenance hangar having problems fixed after it returned from an exercise in Canada.

Air force spokesman Squadron Leader Ric Cullinane said the crisis was caused by the age of the aircraft and the difficulties in maintaining increasingly unreliable systems and plant. He said on any one day the air force would expect to have between three and five Hercules or Boeings serviceable.

"It is a consequence of aging aircraft and ageing systems which we are working hard on," Sqn Ldr Cullinane said.

"It is a parlous state," he said.

Both the Hercules and Boeing 727 aircraft are crucial elements in carrying out the Government's defence policy by transporting troops and equipment to various theatres.

However, that policy was now at risk because of the increasing lack of reliability of the aircraft, said the Government's Defence Long Term Development Plan.

The Hercules and the Boeings are very old aircraft by international military standards.

The Hercules were first introduced in New Zealand in 1965 and the Boeings were bought second-hand in 1981.

A "life of type" study has begun on the Hercules to determine the best option -- upgrade or replacement.'

Upgrading to give the Hercules another 15-20 years of life could cost up to $170m.

New Zealand also has an option to buy the latest model C130J Hercules at a likely cost of more than $800m. The option, part of an Australian order of new C130J models, was due to expire at the end of the year.

The replacement of the Boeings has been classified as urgent by the Government, because of the increasing corrosion and structural problems and maintenance.

The old Boeings also face increasing worldwide opposition because of noise levels and outdated navigation and communications systems.

From April this year the old Boeings were banned from several international airfields and needed a waiver to operate from others, including Wellington.

Replacement options for the Boeing 727 include Boeing 737, 757 and 767s, Airbus A310 or A320 (similar to the A320 Air New Zealand plans to add to its fleet) and the Russian Tupolev TU 204-214.

The Boeing replacement could cost up to $200m and was due to begin towards the end of this year.

- NZPA

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