Defence Grounds Some C-27J Spartan Aircraft After Finding Structural Cracks
The Royal Australian Air Force has stopped flying an undisclosed number of its C-27J Spartans after finding “cracking” on some of the light tactical fixed-wing aircraft.
Inspections of the Queensland-based fleet identified the same engineering problem, which has prompted the United States Coast Guard to ground all 14 of its C-27J planes over the weekend.
Italian manufacturer Leonardo recently issued an “Alert Service Bulletin” to the 17 nations that operate around 90 of the airframes worldwide for mid-range tactical transport and maritime surveillance missions.
It reportedly directed users to inspect for cracks in the upper rear of the aircraft, where the Spartan’s horizontal and vertical stabilisers attach to the fuselage.
In a statement late on Wednesday, the Department of Defence told the ABC it was “aware that the United States Coast Guard has identified cracks in its C-27J aircraft”.
“The aircraft manufacturer had already alerted Defence to this issue via an Alert Service Bulletin,” the Defence spokesperson said.
“The Royal Australian Air Force has initiated inspections on Australia’s C-27J fleet and identified similar issues.
“Aircraft found to have cracking will not be flown until an engineering assessment has been completed,” the spokesperson added while declining to answer precisely how many aircraft had been grounded.
The first C-27J Spartan arrived in Australia in 2015, and the current fleet of 10 aircraft is operated by No. 35 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley outside Brisbane.
Just last week RAAF aviators from 2 Security Forces Squadron escorted passengers onto a C-27J Spartan aircraft and simulated non-combatant evacuation by a C-17 Globemaster during a military exercise at an “undisclosed airfield”.
According to the RAAF, the C-27J can operate from unsurfaced airstrips, support humanitarian missions in remote locations, and much like the larger Hercules and Globemaster, it can drop cargo and paratroops in-flight and airlift a variety of loads.
Source : ABC News
