The General Secretary of the Celtic League has called for the RAFs fleet of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft which operate from a base in Scotland to be grounded.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot says the 2006 crash of a Nimrod in Afghanistan in which all crew members were killed is no the first serious accident with the type.

The League have already asked the Manx government to ban operations by Nimrod aircraft at the civil airport on the Isle of Man which is used occasionally by the type both operationally and for training.

"Stewart Stevenson MSP Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP

Dear Stewart Stevenson

Nimrod safety issues - RAF Kinloss

I am writing following the comments made by Deputy Coroner for Oxfordshire, England Andrew Walker, last week regarding the deaths of 14 servicemen from an RAF Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on September 2006.

As you will no doubt be aware, Mr Walker, concluded in his judgement that the entire Nimrod fleet had "never been airworthy from the first time it was released to service" in 1969 and that the "cavalier approach to safety" that had been employed in the use of the craft "must come to an end." This was confirmed by the a senior engineer from defence and aerospace firm BAE Systems during the inquest into the crash, who stated that his predecessors had originally failed to fit a safely feature in a 'key area of risk' on the aircraft.

The Celtic League is fully aware that the 2006 crash was not the first serious incident involving the Nimrod plane and that there have also been safety incidents since. We are also aware that the RAF Nimrod operates out of the RAF base at Kinloss and we consequently would like to seek assurances that the Scottish Government is working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to ensure the future safety of residents in Scotland who may be at risk from the continued use of the plane over Scottish territory. In addition, we would be keen to know if the Scottish Government will now call for operations of the Nimrod fleet to be restricted in Scotland following the recent revelation and also what channels are open to the Scottish Government to influence MOD activity on Scottish territory.

The League has campaigned for a ban of the Nimrod aircraft for many years, due to safety concerns. This latest judgement confirms our fears and we will therefore continue to campaign for the permanent grounding of the entire Nimrod fleet, unless or until a thorough safety overhaul of the plane is undertaken.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

Cc Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence"

See related articles on Celtic News at:

(ISLE OF MAN - BAN NIMROD FLIGHTS CALL)

(voir le site)

(RONALDSWAY'S RAF VISITORS - AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN)

(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

26/05/08

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