UK sees protection for Hercules planes by yr-end

London, Mar 1: Britain plans to fit the majority of itsHercules aircraft with fuel tank fire protection by the end of 2007 --almost three years after 10 aircrew died when one such plane crashed inIraq, the defence ministry said.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence gave the timeframe lateyesterday after the BBC reported that only seven of the Royal AirForce's fleet of C-130 Hercules transport planes had been equipped withthe special foam to prevent explosions.

''The programme to fit explosive suppressant foam to the majorityof the RAF Hercules fleet is ongoing,'' the defence ministry spokesmansaid. ''On current plans it is expected that this work will becompleted around the end of the year.'' The spokesman said the RAF hada total of 44 Hercules planes.

The BBC put the figure at 48.

Ten RAF aircrew died in Iraq in January 2005 when their Herculestransport plane lost its wing and crashed after small arms ground firehad set a fuel tank ablaze.

An official inquiry concluded that the lack of a fuel tankinerting system in the wings left the plane vulnerable to explosionsand may have contributed to the crash.

Then defence secretary John Reid admitted last May the men's livescould have been saved if their plane had been fitted with suchprotection -- used as standard by the Americans.

BBC News said it had discovered only seven Hercules planes had been given the special foam safeguard so far.

Nigel Gilbert, a former Hercules pilot who the BBC said flew withspecial forces in Afghanistan, told the broadcaster he was glad thedefence ministry was acting but thought it was doing ''too little, toolate''.

''I believe there's a very real chance that next time we could lose fifty or sixty people on a Hercules,'' Gilbert said.

The main opposition Conservative Party also criticised thegovernment for what it called a failure to fulfil a pledge to equip theHercules fleet with the suppressant foam.

''The MoD must take swift action to ensure we do not end up withanother tragedy in the armed forces,'' Conservative Party defencespokesman Liam Fox said in a statement.

''With these aircraft operating at such a high tempo this must be a priority,'' he said.

Britain last week announced it was scaling back its mission inIraq from 7,100 troops to 5,500. But it is sending an additional 1,400soldiers to Afghanistan, which will evenutally take the force there to7,700.

Reuters>