Parliamentary Questions concerning Hercules Safety
The following questions have been asked in Parliament this week concerning the circumstances of the shooting down of XV179 and the deployment of Hercules ac to Afghanistan.
26
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, what representations he has received in the last five years on
fitting reticulated foam to all Mk1 Hercules aircraft.
(57108)
27
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, what his plans are for combat search and rescue cover for
downed RAF aircrews in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; and if he will make
a statement.
(57109)
28
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, what plans he has to fit the new K model Hercules aircraft with
(a) the latest generation defensive aids suite and (b) foam in the wing
tanks; and if he will make a statement.
(57110)
29
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, which J model Hercules aircraft have been fitted with (a) the
latest generation defensive aids suite and (b) foam in the wing tanks;
and what plans he has to equip the remaining aircraft.
(57111)
30
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated
on the value of (i) the latest generation defensive aids suite and (ii)
foam in the wing tanks of Hercules aircraft; and what assessment he has
made of the research on these issues.
(57154)
31
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, when each of the Mk 3 Hercules were fitted with associated
defensive aids systems.
(57158)
32
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence, if he will make it his policy not to use Hercules aircraft
which have not been fitted with (a) latest generation Defensive Aids
Suite and (b) foam in the wing tanks in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan;
and if he will make a statement.
(57160
For those who do not know, I am a former Hercules pilot and friend of some of those who were killed last year. Without the restrictions imposed by the Military, I am now in a position to demand answers from the Establishment as to why this crew may have died unnecessarily. I have been working for several weeks through contacts in the media and the House of Commons to improve the safety and security of Hercules aircrew. The above questions have been asked as a result of evidence I submitted to the Defence Committee. The Government has been hiding for too long behind a veil of secrecy and must be brought to account both morally and financially.