Apache - living up to it's name ?

Army being scalped of Apache pilots Scotsman Jan 14th 2006

The British Army's £3 Bn fleet of 67 Apache attack helicopters could go short of pilots after a string of resignations. They reported rumours that few qualified army pilots to fly the aircraft have either quit or plan to leave in coming months, lured by high pay in the private sector (£60,000 a year) , and more flying hours.(Pic Sir Jock Stirrup Head of UK Armed Forces on Newsnight tonight)

Training an Apache pilot takes 6 months and cost £1 Mn because the Apache is the most sophisticated combat aircraft in the world, packed with weapons systems and advanced sensor packages that provide pilots with massive amounts of information.

The report claimed that 4 Apache pilots had resigned in recent weeks rumours abound of up to a total of 11 expected to leave.

If true, several of the Apaches, which cost about £30 million each, could effectively be grounded for lack of a qualified pilot. The Apache fleet already has suffered teething troubles in the form of mechanical and technical failures.

Such is the complexity of its systems, anything between a fifth and a half of the helicopters are grounded for maintenance at any one time. A shortage of qualified engineers exacerbates the situation.

Several private companies pay generously for army-trained pilots who are then effectively hired back to the military through Private Finance Initiative training contracts.

Then again there are other problems...

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to ensure helicopter blades are more resistant to desert conditions.[HL1247]

Lord Bach : The rotor blades of UK military helicopters are protected against erosion in desert conditions in a variety of ways. A number of helicopter types have polyurethane self-adhesive tape applied to the main rotor blade leading edges. This tape is readily removed and replaced as necessary. The remainder have blades with integral titanium or stainless steel leading edges designed to withstand sand erosion.

National Audit Office report 31/10/02

The delivery of training services for Apache pilots, groundcrew and maintenance staff through a £1 billion PFI deal with Boeing and Westland has been delayed primarily by problems with the pilot Full Mission Simulator. As a consequence of this, the full Apache pilot conversion programme will not now be completed until February 2007, nearly 3 years later than expected.

Some Apache aircraft will have to be stored until trained pilots are available to fly them....

....although some spares may have to be to sourced from the Apache aircraft which are being stored.

In introducing the report Sir John Bourn said ..."it is disappointing that because of problems with the training programme, primarily delays in the availability of the Full Mission Simulator, the helicopters are not expected to provide a Brigade-level capability until February 2007."

...which leaves the uninformed observer with the lingering suspicionthat an eye-popping £3Bn. spent on attack helicopters is not producing the desired results. 6 operational Apaches in Afghanistan, sand, dust, heat, shortage of parts, skilled pilots, engineers..... and a foe equipped with AK47's , RPG's and a few motorbikes.