STILL grounded: most RAF Boeing E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft..

Stratofreighter · Post by **Stratofreighter** » 15 Apr 2012, 10:37

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-17715640

wamovements · Post by **wamovements** » 15 Apr 2012, 20:46

Hopefully this doens't affect Frisian Flag of Monday 16 April 2012 too much as for this monday an E-3D, callsign NATO31, was expected to participate.

jimmy van drunen · Post by **jimmy van drunen** » 15 Apr 2012, 21:27

NATO31 cancelled

Bron; Oscar Sannen

michel N · Post by **michel N** » 15 Apr 2012, 21:37

Although one E-3D was already grounded some time ago being cannibalised for spare parts (ZH105).

One thing puzzles me... What kind of fault is so serious that it grounds all 6 operational Sentries, and why doesn't it cause any operational issues? If they are not being missed in UK airspace, I can think of a very easy way of saving money for the British MOD. Get rid of 'em....

TONKACRAZIE22 · Post by **TONKACRAZIE22** » 18 Apr 2012, 17:43

the issues were last thursday, of which now problem is solved. I keep checking for more details but nobody seems to be talking. " are the raf embarressed to even say"? seems odd there keeping quiet.

Stratofreighter · Post by **Stratofreighter** » 24 Apr 2012, 00:17

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... lt-370994/

RAF Sentry fleet kept on ground due to radome fault

6 hours ago

Non-essential operations with the UK Royal Air Force's Boeing E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft remain suspended on safety grounds,
with no date yet established for returning the surveillance type to routine duties.

"Following the discovery of faults in the radome supports of two aircraft, we have temporarily suspended non-operational routine flying,"
UK minister for defence equipment and support Peter Luff said in response to a parliamentary question on 19 April.

Describing the action as a precautionary step, rather than a grounding order,
he said:
"The force remains at readiness to meet UK and NATO commitments, and operational flying will continue as required.

"No timescale has yet been set for the resumption of routine flying.

We are engaging with all stakeholders, including industry, to address the issue as quickly as possible," Luff said. Northrop Grumman holds a whole-life support programme contract to sustain the E-3D fleet for the UK.

Based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and flown by 8 Squadron, the Sentry aircraft provide the UK's contribution to the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.

The E-3Ds were not committed to supporting any Alliance operations, Luff said.

The E-3D's fuselage-mounted radome houses a Northrop APY-2 surveillance radar, which the RAF says can detect a medium-altitude aircraft from a range of more than 518km (280nm).

Each of the service's Boeing 707-based examples is flown with a typical crew of 18 personnel.

Scramble Messageboard