Brit Hercules report doesn’t worry Canadian commander
By MURRAY BREWSTER The Canadian Press Sat. Oct 25 - 6:31 AM
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OTTAWA (CP) — Canada's top military commander has no safety concerns about the air force's aging C-130 cargo planes, despite a British coroner's report that recommended an explosion-suppressant system be installed aboard that country's Hercules transports.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynzcyk said Friday that he has yet to see the British report, but will take it up with the head of the air force.
``Canadian Forces do not operate aircraft that are not safe,'' he said during an interview with Radio station CFAX in Victoria.
A coroner's inquest in Britain found that the lack of such a foam fire suppressant in the gas tank of a Royal Air Force Hercules contributed to the deaths of 10 servicemen in Iraq in a 2005 crash.
In January 2005, an RAF C-130K was sprayed with medium-calibre anti-aircraft fire as it swooped low over insurgent-held territory near Baghdad.
The ground fire pierced the gas tank, igniting fuel vapours.
The resulting explosion blew off the right wing.
Wiltshire coroner David Masters, who investigated the crash, determined that a foam sealant in the tanks, present on American C-130s since the 1960s, would have likely prevented the tragedy.
When they purchased the venerable cargo planes, the RAF had elected not to go with the upgraded protection.
Masters stated that not having taken that action represented a ``serious systemic failure.''
Canada's C-130s, which are older than the British versions, and perform low-level army supply drops over Taliban territory, also do not have the explosion-suppressant system.
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By MURRAY BREWSTER The Canadian Press Sat. Oct 25 - 6:31 AM
Article Link
OTTAWA (CP) — Canada's top military commander has no safety concerns about the air force's aging C-130 cargo planes, despite a British coroner's report that recommended an explosion-suppressant system be installed aboard that country's Hercules transports.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynzcyk said Friday that he has yet to see the British report, but will take it up with the head of the air force.
``Canadian Forces do not operate aircraft that are not safe,'' he said during an interview with Radio station CFAX in Victoria.
A coroner's inquest in Britain found that the lack of such a foam fire suppressant in the gas tank of a Royal Air Force Hercules contributed to the deaths of 10 servicemen in Iraq in a 2005 crash.
In January 2005, an RAF C-130K was sprayed with medium-calibre anti-aircraft fire as it swooped low over insurgent-held territory near Baghdad.
The ground fire pierced the gas tank, igniting fuel vapours.
The resulting explosion blew off the right wing.
Wiltshire coroner David Masters, who investigated the crash, determined that a foam sealant in the tanks, present on American C-130s since the 1960s, would have likely prevented the tragedy.
When they purchased the venerable cargo planes, the RAF had elected not to go with the upgraded protection.
Masters stated that not having taken that action represented a ``serious systemic failure.''
Canada's C-130s, which are older than the British versions, and perform low-level army supply drops over Taliban territory, also do not have the explosion-suppressant system.
More on link
