LEAGUE CONCERNS VINDICATED AS NIMRODS GROUNDED
It has been announced that all Nimrod aircraft that have not had a vital safety modification are to be grounded by the RAF. The Ministry of Defence made the announcement today.
The statement contradicts earlier assurances given by the MOD that the aircraft were all safe to fly.
As recently as December last year the MOD assured an Isle of Man newspaper that the Nimrod was safe to operate after the Celtic League had expressed concern over its use of the civil airport on the Island for training purposes.
The Isle of Man government also had refused requests to ban the aircraft from using the airport or from operating over populated areas of the Isle of Man.
The Nimrod is just the latest of a series of military aircraft types which the Celtic League have criticised for being operated long past their sell-by date.
Some years ago League concerns over the safety record of the RAF Hawk jet trainer (which operates extensively over north Wales and the Isle of Man) were also vindicated when the fleet was subject to emergency safety checks.
Also, in February 2000 Celtic League suggestions that military Lynx helicopters had an inherent defect in the tail rotor were rubbished by the MOD. However within days the MOD had to eat their words when the entire fleet was grounded for urgent safety checks to their tail rotors.
This latest embarrassment with the Nimrod shows the MOD continue to put their aircrew and the public at risk.
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
09/03/09
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