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The fitting of a Radar Altimeter (RADALT) and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) to RAF Hawk T1 trainers, recommended as a safety upgrade following a fatal accident at Shap in Cumbria in 1999, has not taken place. The Defence Minister, Bob Ainsworth, says the safety move was not deemed cost effective. However, the MOD say they are upgrading the Accident Data Recorder (ADR) due to the obsolescence of the existing device.
RAF Hawk T1 trainers operate extensively over North Wales (where they are based), the Isle of Man, South West Scotland and the Borders. There have been numerous accidents and incidents involving the increasingly obsolete type. The MOD say they cannot yet comment on the most recent crash involving the aircraft. The Celtic League has catalogued safety concerns about the type for the past two decades during which over 25% of the RAF fleet have been lost in accidents.
(The MOD correspondence is set out below):
"Thank you for your letter of 11 November 2008, in which you raised your concerns regarding the safety of the Hawk aircraft. You asked whether safety upgrades to the aircraft have been made in light of the findings of the Board of Inquiry (BOl) into a fatal crash in Cumbria in 1999 and whether the MOD considers the aircraft to be 'fit for purpose' in view of its safety record.
The 1999 BOI recommended that consideration be given to the fitment of a Radar Altimeter (RADALT) and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) to the aircraft and a voice channel to the Accident Data Recorder (ADR). The introduction of RADALT and/or GPWS was not deemed cost-effective, given the proximity to the out of service date of the Hawk-T1. The ADR at the time was an analogue device which was not suitable for voice recording. However, due to the increasing obsolescence of the existing ADR, work began in 2006 to fit the fleet with a new solid state data recorder. This work is now complete. A modification is also being developed to install voice recording on the Data Recorder and it is expected that work to fit this modification to the aircraft will commence from mid 2009.
It should be noted that the new Hawk 12, which will enter service in 2009 and start to replace the Hawk-T1 in the training role from 2011, will be fitted with a Radar Altimeter, Ground Proximity Warning System and a Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System.
You asked whether the MOD considers the Hawk to be 'fit for purpose'. The term 'fit for purpose' is typically used to describe aircraft availability; that is, whether aircraft are available to meet the tasking required of them on a given date. There are not considered to be any safety concerns which affect the availability of the Hawk fleet.
With regard to your comment about the 'chequered safety record' of the aircraft, I can only reiterate the point made by my predecessor that the Hawks' technical safety record is considered to be very good and this remains the case, even in view of the crash of a Hawk at RAF Cranwell in August 2008. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
I hope that this information is helpful.
The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP"
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Also some items in the older Celtic League archive at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 10/01/09
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.
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