Isle of Man/Mannin - Ban RAF Nimrod flights call

The Celtic League have written to the Isle of Man government (see
below) urging them to restrict any use of Ronaldsway Airport by RAF
Nimrod aircraft.

The call comes in the wake of a decision by an English Coroner yesterday
that the aircraft was "not airworthy" and that "the design modifications
for the aircraft contained a serious design flaw that made it unsafe
to fly".

The Nimrod is one of a number of Royal Air Force aircraft types which
use the civil airport at Ronaldsway periodically for training or operational
purposes.

"Mr Tony Brown MHK
Chief Minister
Isle of Man Government
Chief Ministers Suite
Government Buildings
Douglas
Isle of Man

Dear Chief Minister

Ref: Ronaldsway Airport - usage by British Military - RAF Nimrod aircraft.

I refer you to the comments of the Assistant Deputy Coroner for Oxfordshire,
Andrew Walker, during his concluding remarks into the death of a number
of aircrew from an RAF Nimrod which crashed in September 2006.

Mr Walker said:

"The crew and passengers were not to know that this aircraft, like
every other aircraft within the Nimrod fleet, was not airworthy. What
is more, the aircraft was, in my judgement, never airworthy from the
first release to service in 1969 to the point where the Nimrod XV230
was lost."

He also went on to say that he was satisfied "on the balance of probability",
that the design modifications for the aircraft contained a serious
design flaw that made it unsafe to fly.

I understand that this RAF aircraft type uses Ronaldsway Airport periodically
for both training and operational duties.

Can you advise if, in the light of the Coroners very explicit condemnation
of its safety limitations, you will be taking steps to restrict its
use of Isle of Man Airport facilities?"


An external link to a UK news report on the Coroners inquest can be
found at:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ageing-nimrod-fleet-is-unsafe-and-should-be-grounded-says-coroner-833564.html

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

24/05/08


The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/