The Times January 10, 2007
£100m to make Chinooks safe
Michael Evans
WHITEHALL The Ministry of Defence is to spend more than £100 million updating eight Chinook helicopters that have been grounded since they were bought from the United States for £252 million 12 years ago.
The helicopters, which are needed urgently in Iraq and Afghanistan, failed to meet strict airworthiness and safety specifications, which include a basic requirement that they should be able to fly in cloud. The MoD has decided that with such a shortage of helicopters, there is no alternative but to spend the money on making the Chinooks airworthy............