RAF 'facing transport plane crisis'
Daily Mail
www.dailymail.co.uk
27 June 2008 pg 47
THE armed forces could run out of transport aircraft in two years, a report warns today. Constant use in Afghanistan and Iraq is forcing the RAF to retire its ageing Hercules aircraft early, while the project to provide replacements has suffered years of delays.

There is a 'significant risk' that there will be too few planes to meet military needs after 2010, the National Audit Office report said.

Five years ago, the RAF had 51 Hercules. Four have since been lost on operations, while nine are being retired early through overuse. Some are almost 40 years old and by 2010 only 33 will be useable.

The Ministry of Defence pays £245million a year to run the Hercules fleet. Last year the Treasury contributed £92.7million towards the cost from special war funds.

Last year, £130million was spent chartering commercial planes to ease the shortfall, and £41million was spent maintaining older Hercules.

The replacement Airbus A400M aircraft was meant to enter service next year but the 25 planes ordered are now unlikely to be ready before 2012 or later.

Today's report also highlights shortages with engineers, spare parts and training flights for pilots.

The MoD insisted yesterday that the Airbus A400M was expected to be ready in time for a 'smooth replacement' of the Hercules fleet. This assurance of the aircraft availability is concerning, with the latest news of aircraft shortages, overstretch, lack of funding and delay in the delivery time of replacement aircraft.

Lyneham Village Online asked the A400M Project team - 22nd July 2004, "Knowing what MoD's track record is with inception projects, Typhoon, TSr2, SA80, C130J, Support equipment, Tornado, etc etc, , could you assure us that we will not have another  major overspend and delays that will jeopardise the AT Fleet and C130K."

Caroline McDonald MOD A400m Business Manager replied "Thank you for your e-mail regarding the A400M, I can assure you that due to the nature of the contract there will not be an overspend against this project. I can advise that the forecast delivery date for the UK's 1st A/C is 2010 and the In Service Date is 2011, this is on delivery of the 7th A/C."