36/1/4/1/201200171

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2091
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 AUGUST 2012

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 23-2012)

Date reply submitted: 4 September 2012

2091. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) Whether any of the helicopters of the SA Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing have been grounded for maintenance since 1 January 2012; if not, why not; if so, (a)(i) how many have been grounded in each province and (ii) for how long in each case and (b) how often does each SAPS helicopter undergo maintenance;

(2) whether there were any delays in the maintenance of these helicopters; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what caused the delays;

(3) who has been contracted to provide (a) product support and (b) maintenance to the SAPS Air Wing helicopters?

NW2571E

REPLY:

(1) Yes

(a)

5 helicopters from Gauteng

• 2 were grounded in April 2011. One of these had to have  the Engine was removed and sent to the USA after being under power the other's gear box was sent to the USA for repair
• Two were was grounded in October 2011and the delays have been caused by needing to get spare parts from Germany
• One was grounded in November 2011 and as with the two above delays have been cause by parts needing to be sourced from Germany.

1 helicopter from Western Cape (Grounded in December 2011 and special part is still awaited from Germany)

1 helicopter from Free State (grounded in February 2011 and was sent for upgrade The upgrade requires special spares as the helicopter has been operating more than 25 years)

(b) After every 100 flying hours.

(2) There are no delays in the appointment of service providers to perform maintenance on the helicopters.  The original equipment manufacturers (service providers for the specific brand and model of helicopters) are appointed immediately after a requirement for maintenance is received.

(3)(a)(b) Armscor is in an advanced stage of establishing a term contract on behalf of the SAPS with the original equipment manufacturers for the various models of helicopters in the SAPS fleet.  The original equipment manufacturers for the different models of helicopters are being utilized and contracted to perform maintenance and product support on the helicopters as and when a requirement arises.

Reply to question 2091 approved by the Minister

Issued by Parliament, September 5 2012

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