Scotland/Alba - Ground Nimrod fleet call

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has called for the RAFs
fleet of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft which operate from a base
in Scotland to be grounded.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot says the 2006 crash of a Nimrod in Afghanistan
in which all crew members were killed is no the first serious accident
with the type.

The League have already asked the Manx government to ban operations
by Nimrod aircraft at the civil airport on the Isle of Man which is
used occasionally by the type both operationally and for training.

"Stewart Stevenson MSP
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Dear Stewart Stevenson

Nimrod safety issues - RAF Kinloss

I am writing following the comments made by Deputy Coroner for Oxfordshire,
England
Andrew Walker, last week regarding the deaths of 14 servicemen from
an RAF Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on September 2006.

As you will no doubt be aware, Mr Walker, concluded in his judgement
that the entire Nimrod fleet had "never been airworthy from the first
time it was released to service" in 1969 and that the "cavalier approach
to safety" that had been employed in the use of the craft "must come
to an end." This was confirmed by the a senior engineer from defence
and aerospace firm BAE Systems during the inquest into the crash,
who stated that his predecessors had originally failed to fit a safely
feature in a 'key area of risk' on the aircraft.

The Celtic League is fully aware that the 2006 crash was not the first
serious incident involving the Nimrod plane and that there have also
been safety incidents since. We are also aware that the RAF Nimrod
operates out of the RAF base at Kinloss and we consequently would
like to seek assurances that the Scottish Government is working closely
with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to ensure the future safety of
residents in Scotland who may be at risk from the continued use of
the plane over Scottish territory. In addition, we would be keen to
know if the Scottish Government will now call for operations of the
Nimrod fleet to be restricted in Scotland following the recent revelation
and also what channels are open to the Scottish Government to influence
MOD activity on Scottish territory.

The League has campaigned for a ban of the Nimrod aircraft for many
years, due to safety concerns. This latest judgement confirms our
fears and we will therefore continue to campaign for the permanent
grounding of the entire Nimrod fleet, unless or until a thorough safety
overhaul of the plane is undertaken.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

Cc Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence"


See related articles on Celtic News at:

(ISLE OF MAN - BAN NIMROD FLIGHTS CALL)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2621

(RONALDSWAY'S RAF VISITORS - AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2105


J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

26/05/08


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/