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Written question asked by David Davis (Conservative) on Friday, 20 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 March 2004. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Monday, 1 March 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Ministry of Defence

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) functional and (b) operational differences are between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3; how the FADEC system in the Mark 2 Chinook differs from that available to the (a) Mark 2a, (b) the Chinook 47-H and (c) the Mark 3; what problems the software changes made to FADEC on the MH47 address; what necessitated these changes; who asked for these changes to be made; what functionality they provide for the MH47 that is not available to the Mark 3 Chinook; for what reasons these changes were not incorporated in the Mark 3 FADEC ; when these changes are due to be incorporated; and if he will make a statement; whether the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook is the same as that used in the (a) Mark 2, (b) Mark 2a and (c) MH47 Chinook; what that process comprises; who was contracted to conduct this process for the (i) Mark 2, (ii) Mark 2a, (iii) MH47 and (iv) Mark 3 Chinook; to whom the contractor sub-contracted this work; and if he will make a statement; what work has been conducted on FADEC in the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter at Boscombe Down; what reports Boscombe Down has produced on the work; whether independent sub-contractors produced reports on the Mark 3 FADEC; and if he will make a statement; whether (a) Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., (b) Chandler Evans Controls Systems and (c) Boeing Helicopters Corp. have given undertakings to his Department about the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3; what problems the (a) Mark 2 Chinook, (b) Mark 2a Chinook and (c) MH47 Chinook helicopters displayed which the Mark 3 was designed to solve; what the basis was for his Department's decision to procure the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and if he will make a statement; what tests are required to (a) the aircraft as a whole and (b) component parts, on the Mark 3 Chinook prior to its gaining release to full operational service other than the flight trials being conducted at Boscombe Down; what tests are still to be completed; and when he expects this release to be granted; what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; who undertook this analysis; and what the results were. - Will write.
Answer

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) functional and (b) operational differences are between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3; [156221] (2) how the FADEC system in the Mark 2 Chinook differs from that available to the (a) Mark 2a, (b) the Chinook 47-H and (c) the Mark 3; [156222] (3) what problems the software changes made to FADEC on the MH47 address; what necessitated these changes; who asked for these changes to be made; what functionality they provide for the MH47 that is not available to the Mark 3 Chinook; for what reasons these changes were not incorporated in the Mark 3 FADEC; when these changes are due to be incorporated; and if he will make a statement; [156223] (4) whether the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook is the same as that used in the (a) Mark 2, (b) Mark 2a and (c) MH47 Chinook; what that process comprises; who was contracted to conduct this process for the (i) Mark 2, (ii) Mark 2a, (iii) MH47 and (iv) Mark 3 Chinook; to whom the contractor sub-contracted this work; and if he will make a statement; [156224] (5) what work has been conducted on FADEC in the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter at Boscombe Down; what reports Boscombe Down has produced on the work; whether independent sub-contractors produced reports on the Mark 3 FADEC; and if he will make a statement; [156225] (6) whether (a) Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., (b) Chandler Evans Controls Systems and (c) Boeing Helicopters Corp. have given undertakings to his Department about the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3; [156226] (7) what problems the (a) Mark 2 Chinook, (b) Mark 2a Chinook and (c) MH47 Chinook helicopters displayed which the Mark 3 was designed to solve; [156229] (8) what the basis was for his Department's decision to procure the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and if he will make a statement; [156230] (9) what tests are required to (a) the aircraft as a whole and (b) component parts, on the Mark 3 Chinook prior to its gaining release to full operational service other than the flight trials being conducted at Boscombe Down; what tests are still to be completed; and when he expects this release to be granted; [156231] (10) what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; who undertook this analysis; and what the results were. [156232] Mr. Ingram: I will write to the right hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
418 c670-1W;418 c690-1W; 156221;156222;156223;156224;156225;156226;156229;156230;156231;156232
Session
2003-04
Subjects
Contracts Software Cost benefit analysis Helicopters Procurement Testing Chinook helicopters
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk