Danish public accounts committee 2012:
http://uk.rigsrevisionen.dk/media/1884590/1-2012.pdf
The operational availability of the EH-101 helicopters has since 2010 varied between
53 and 55 per cent, which is sufficient to perform the search and rescue task. The
Defence is aiming for an operational availability of 65 per cent when the task of trans-
porting troops is also performed. The Defence expects to start the re-education of
personnel for the performance of the troop transport task early in 2013.
High error rates and lengthy turnaround times for spare parts continue to complicate
maintaining the EH-101 helicopters. Getting the helicopters ready to perform the re-
quired tasks, including primarily the search and rescue tasks, is therefore a deman-
ding task for the Defence. The Defence has focus on the maintenance issues and is
cooperating with the suppliers on resolving the problems, and action has been taken
to improve the situation. However, the effect of these initiatives is long term and can-
not be assessed at this point.
Is the Danish Defence now positioned to estimate the total operational costs of the
EH-101 helicopters?
So far the Defence has not been able to estimate the total operational costs of the
EH-101 helicopters. The Defence is now positioned to do so and therefore has a bet-
ter basis for assessing the impact of the EH-101 helicopters on the economy. Ac-
cording to the estimates prepared by the Defence, total annual operational costs are
considerably higher than the DKK 76 million estimated at the time of procurement in
2001. In 2011 operational costs amounted to approximately DKK 214 million. This
increase reflects the fact that operating the EH-101 helicopters has turned out to be
more expensive than expected and that all significant costs are now included in the
estimate prepared by the Defence. Total operational costs will increase further when
the Defence starts using the EH-101 helicopters for transporting troops.