My thoughts exactly re 3 weeks for annual!!! 135 users are now experiencing 5 days for 400, 7-9 for 800. With the prospect of 50 and 100 hr inspections to be removed, the 135 remains available more and more.
Questions are and should be asked as to why the 902 spends more time off-line due to lack of parts, when your using TAXPAYERS money. The CC, more importantly the bobby on the ground in any Police force expects their aircraft available to provide air support. When they see theirs is not, lots of times, for long periods, questions start to get asked as to why. AND - can't we have one of those types our neighbours are using, they are operaional most of the time. That is begining to happen.
I know of one force that wants to get rid of their 902, not because its not a capable aircraft - because it is, but because its just not available for the force to use. And thats not due to role equipment faults, as we all have those, but due to the aicraft spares situation.