read this first.................
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow?msid=134410
Ever since the demise of the Boeing 737 that shed a good part of its skin in Hawaii many years ago , we have been hearing from the various oil companies that helicopters over 10 years old are no longer acceptable for their contract bids. This , of course , is music to the ears of the helicopter manufacturers. You cant blame them for wanting to sell more machines. That is what they are in business for.
My point , however is this....is it a reasonable argument to compare aging helicopters with aging (pressurized) jets. Do our helicopters suffer the same or similiar fatigue with age ? Or is the industry getting confused with maintenance standards
Is it still not the case that a particular serial number helicopter may possess (many years later) only one of its original parts ie its data plate ???!!! (I say this with tongue in cheek , but......)
Take the S76A++ (or the Shortsky) It started life as an A model in say 1979 but is converted to A++ in 1999. When do you start the 10 year clock running with this helicopter?
THE AGING HELICOPTER DEBATE ?????
...but of course I would rather fly a brand new helicopter but I also get a little discombobulated with an argument that seems to have holes in it...big ones !
over to you..........