Jet Ranger fleet grounded after crash
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Oct2005_news03.php
Most army copters now out of action
By Wassana Nanuam
The army has suspended flights of all Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters following Thursday’s crash of a Jet Ranger that killed the Pha Muang task force chief, his aide and two pilots. A Jet Ranger crashed with Maj-Gen Pairat Thongjattu, the task force chief, his aide Maj Wisit Worawitwattana and pilots Capt Thonglor Nakphu and Capt Komin Thong-uthai on board near the Mae Kerng waterfall in the Wiang Kosai national park in Phrae’s Wang Chin district, while on its way from Phitsanulok to the Pha Muang task force headquarters in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district.
A source said the army had 30 Jet Ranger helicopters in commission but most were out of action due to budgetary constraints. A 2005 budget for helicopter repairs was slashed, resulting in nearly 70% of UH1H, Bell 212, Chinook and Jet Ranger helicopters being grounded.
The army’s aviation centre in Lop Buri and the Land Transport Department tried to repair the rest and they were put in operation only with permission.
The source said army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin had suspended flights of all Jet Ranger helicopters for checks.
He also wants checks on the airworthiness of helicopters of other makes to see if they also needed repairs so that a budget could be arranged for them.
Maj-Gen Manas Paorik, deputy Third Army commander and former chief of the Pha Muang task force, said the task force borrowed two Jet Ranger helicopters from the 2nd Cavalry Division in Bangkok. The task force had two helicopters of this type but they had been grounded for lack of a budget for maintenance. The task force used the helicopters for air patrols along the border. Maj-Gen Manas said he was once on a similar aircraft that had to make two emergency landings.
Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng, deputy army spokesman, said the army has given Maj-Gen Pairat a seven-step promotion to the rank of general for dying on duty. His family was also entitled to compensation. He said the army was also considering a special promotion and compensation for Maj Wisit and the two pilots.