– It came as a shock to us all, says Jørgen Reiersen, aircraft system technician and shop steward in the Norwegian Officers ‘and Specialists’ Association. He is 22 years old and has trained to work with military helicopters. But now he does not know what the future holds. – In the last six months, there has been a lot of uncertainty around NH90. The situation we are in now is very difficult. We know very little about what the future brings, says Reiersen. Last week, the government terminated the contract with the Italian supplier, and will return the 13 NH90 helicopters. Trade union representative Jørgen Reiersen says the situation is difficult. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news Hoping for quick clarification Helicopters worth NOK 5 billion have for many years been a headache for the Armed Forces. They were ordered 20 years ago. However, not all helicopters were still in place this spring. Not only are deadlines broken. The Office of the Auditor General has concluded that the helicopters provide fewer flight hours than expected, have a high need for maintenance and high operating costs. NH 90 NH90 is a twin-engine helicopter, developed by Italian NHIndustries (owned by Eurocopter, Augusta Westland and Stork Fokker. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense decided in 2001 to acquire 14 NH90 helicopters. Eight of these will replace six of the Coast Guard’s Westland Lynx helicopters Six will be delivered to the new frigates to the Norwegian Navy. The Coast Guard’s helicopters will be subject to 139 Air Force and 337 Squadron. The helicopters should actually have been delivered in the period 2005 – 2008, but are significantly delayed by the supplier. machines, will be phased in in 2022. Norwegian procurement costs were initially NOK 5.7 billion Source: Department of Defense, Ministry of Defense, news, Wikipedia Despite all the challenges, the scrapping of the helicopters came as a surprise to the environment at Bardufoss. on this, I think the provision came as a great surprise to everyone, so we do not have all the information we would like us now, says Tom Kristiansen, head of maintenance at the maritime helicopter wing. The helicopters are used in, among other things, search and rescue operations. They are affiliated with the Coast Guard and stationed at the main base Bardufoss airport in Troms Now many, including mayors in Mid-Troms, are worried that Bardufoss may lose important jobs and skills. – It is a bit difficult to take care of the personnel in such a situation. We hope for as quick a clarification as possible on what may come, and what we will do with NH90. It is important to retain the competence, says Kristiansen. Kristiansen says that the operation of the helicopters is a special competence that is only located at Bardufoss. – The case must be followed up Even if the NH 90 is not to fly, the machines must be maintained. The head of the maritime helicopter wing at Bardufoss airport, Eirik Stueland, says that this means that the personnel checked out of NH90 still have a job to go to. Chief of maritime helicopter wing, Eirik Stueland, says the personnel still have a job to go to. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news – The machines are on the ground. Until further notice, they will be maintained by our technical department. They will maintain air-operative condition on the machines, he says and adds; – Our job now is to take care of the machines we have in the best possible way, so that they are in the condition they should be when they are to be returned. However, Pål Nygård, regional shop steward in the Norwegian Officers ‘and Specialists’ Association, believes that the case must be followed up. – That the government is now terminating NH90 should be investigated. What are the consequences for the economy? What is the operational consequence? And what does this mean for retaining the important competence environment at Bardufoss, Nygård asks. Regional shop steward in the Norwegian Officers ‘and Specialists’ Association, Pål Nygård. Photo: Øystein Antonsen / news
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Great uncertainty at Bardufoss airport after NH90 was scrapped – news Troms and Finnmark
