Grill threat on Caracal chopper faults – Focus on Airbus

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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 12: Member of the parliamentary Budgets and Final Accounts Committee MP Dr Adel Al-Damkhi has unveiled his intention to grill Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah if he decides to receive another Caracal helicopter before Airbus – which signed a contract with the ministry to supply Caracal helicopters – releases a report on the causes of technical errors found in two of the helicopters.

Al-Damkhi disclosed that the committee, in its meeting Wednesday, discussed the ministry’s budget including the Caracal helicopters deal. He said acting Assistant Undersecretary for Equipment Affairs Mona Abdulaziz Al-Eteeqi had earlier sent a letter in this regard to the director of the Armament and Equipment Department.

He said the letter stated that according to the contract with Airbus, six Caracal helicopters are ready for delivery while two are ready for inspection and approval. He added the letter indicated: “Although we are aware of the technical errors in the engines of the two helicopters, such errors do not necessitate postponing receiving the other helicopters until the manufacturer releases a report on the reasons behind the errors since the helicopters are supposed to meet the criteria as per the quality certificates issued by the company.”

He asked Al-Eteeqi if she sent the letter and she confirmed doing so. He inquired if the procedures she talked about were followed with the two helicopters where the technical errors were found and she confirmed this as well. He wants to know why the ministry intends to receive the other helicopters under the same procedures, taking into consideration that the errors are likely to recur, especially since all these helicopters are from the same model.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 18587 times!