Eight Helicopters Reportedly Grounded Since 2001

The UK Ministry of Defense is taking flack for eight Chinook helicopters that have reportedly been grounded since they were purchased due to a software glitch. Sky News reports that the Ministry allegedly tried to save money by writing their own software for the aircraft.

The original deal for the Chinooks was made with Boeing back in 1995, and delivery was made in 2001, according to the paper. But the MoD says it mistakenly did not request security codes for the flight software, and once the mistake was realized, Boeing would not turn over the codes to make the helicopters operational in order to preserve its intellectual property.

But The Times of London reports that the MoD purposely did not request the codes under pressure from the Treasury. The Times says the ministry thought it would save money by writing proprietary flight software for the aircraft.

RAF Chinook File Photo

The bottom line is, the 8 helicopters valued at $483 million in 1995 have been sitting in an air-conditioned hangar in Boscombe Downe since they were delivered in 2001. A Ministry of Defense spokesman said the helicopters have been downgraded to Mk2 operations, though they were designed as Mk3 aircraft. The new estimated total cost of the aircraft is now pegged at over $818 million.

FMI: www.mod.uk