Nimrod Information
Very interesting Ian, I note that you made your posting on the very same day that Angus Robertson got a reply to his question on Nimrod fuel defects. Had to jump on the band-waggon.
1st May Hansard
Angus Robertson (Moray SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual fuel defect rates of the Nimrod fleet per fifty flying hours were in each of the last 10 years: and will he make a statement.
Adam Ingram (Minister of State (Armed Forces) MoD): The average annual fuel system defect ("fuel defect" is defined as any reported fault relating to the aircraft fuel system) rate per 50 flying hours for Nimrod fleet over the last 10 calendar years for which information is currently available, is as follows:
1996 3.93
1997 4.61
1998 4.72
1999 4.64
2000 3.83
2001 3.81
2002 3.83
2003 3.99
2004 4.75
2005 3.80
This tells me two things (1) If I want real action I will approach the MP who covers the Kinloss area (and I recommend others to do the same), and (2) MoD believes that the Nimrod fuel system was better in 2005 than in 1996. If you believe the latter you will believe anything, and it gives us some indication of what sort of BOI report will be issued by MoD when they decide to do it.
DV