Embarrassment of Orion propellors for R.A.A.F.

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 44

Embarrassment of Orion propellors for R.A.A.F.

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Ausralia’s Air Force has 10 Orion anti-submaine and reconaissance aircraft, and enough propellors in store to last them 100 years. With the spotlight on the country’s defence forces, the Government has set a committee to examine the level of spare parts and ammunition, and discovered that if there is one thing the R.A.A.F. will not run short of for at least 100 years, It is propellors for its Ortons. However, how the surfeit of propellors came about may never be publicly known.

The Controller of Logistics, Air Commodore Adrian Furness, appearing before a public hearing of the joint parliamentary Public Accounts

Committee, was about to give his explanation for the stockpiling when the Official Secrets Act cropped up. Another Air Force colleague pointed out that the topic of the propellors was contained in a confidential section of a Defence Department submissin to the committee, and therefore could not be examined in public. Everyone not sworn to give evidence to the hearing was asked to leave the room, and the reason was given behind closed doors. The parliamentary inquiry is to ascertain if the over-all level of spare parts and ammunition is sufficent to meet the stated defence objectives and requirements, and whether they are procured in an economical way. Last year the Defence

Department spent almost $330 million on ammunition and parts and servicing these areas, according to information already supplied to the committee. The department estimated that it employed 1500 people full time and 270 people part-time on procurement.

The committee is also examining whether defence technical equipment Is being used and maintained to manufacturers’ specifications. The Inquiry into procurement arose from earlier work by the public accounts committee into the management of defence projects, which in 15 case studies Identified many wasteful practices. Air Force sources say a well-maintained Orion should have a service life of 30 years.