older helicopters
I agree with you. I think this is an example of someone making a policy without really understanding the principles. Total age of the airframe has little to do with fatigue in helicopters. As we all know, it all has to do with power cycles and/or corrosion. An aircraft heavy lifting for 10 years at 20 cycles per hour is probably way past retirement status. One that has been doing personnel transport at 1 or 2 power cycles per hour is just getting broken in and comfortable to fly by 10 years. If there is no evidence of airframe fatigue or stresses and no instance of failure, what is the point of replacement? In addition, imagine the additional cost of the contract if a ten-year aircraft replacement had to be built in.