Another Gem from Gp Cpt Hickman
During the course of the Coroner inquest into the loss of VX230, MOD stated that a hot air duct replacement program was to be undertaken in the engine bay areas. These ducts are by the way the same items that BAE Systems declared life expired and in need of replacement back in June 2005. The transcript records the following;
Mr Evans (Mod barrister); You are also aiming to replace all ducts in the engine bays and the hope is that should be done by the end of this year.
Gp Cpt Hickman; Yes, that is correct.
It now transpires that Gp Cpt Hickman meant the end of the financial year (March 2009), and not the end of this year (December 2008).
On the subject of ducts, it is reported that a second duct failure happened around March 2006. QinetiQ's view on this is that the risk associated with this system should now be regarded as a being "Occasional/Catastrophic". This according to my Hazard Risk Index table puts it as being an A (Intolerable Risk).
NB. The duct replacement program not only covers the engine bay areas, but the cross-feed system as well (including the 5-way junction)
Last edited by Distant Voice; 9th Aug 2008 at 14:35.