24 May 2002
PAC chair Edward Leigh criticised the MoD's management of its helicopter fleet after a National Audit Office report found deteriorating performance levels.
Leigh said he was alarmed that the Defence Logistics Organisation, which is responsible for giving the MoD strategic support across the armed services, had met fewer performance targets in 2001 than in 2000. The result had been to compromise the armed forces' military capability.
'Ships went to sea without their Lynx helicopters, which seriously reduced their anti-submarine and air-to-surface capability,' Leigh said. 'When Sea Kings were sent to Sierra Leone, all spare engines were sent with them, putting a worrying amount of pressure on search and rescue provision in the UK.'
The NAO report found the lack of information systems had led to properly functioning equipment being taken out of service as a precautionary measure. It cited the example of the rotor heads on Lynx helicopters. Following the failure of one, many helicopters were grounded because the age of their rotor heads was unknown. If this information had been available, the report concluded, a larger number could have continued to fly.
Inspectors also drew a comparison with private firms such as Bristows, which maintains 30 spare engines for every 100 helicopters it has; by contrast, the MoD has 150 spares for every 100.
NAO head Sir John Bourn said: 'The department should aim to develop a consistent regime for measuring outputs and performance and obtain better data in order to give more reliable support to the front line.'
PFmay2002
