Jet plan still in air despite safety fears

THE Government is likely to proceed with acquiring a new nine-seater jet in mid-December, despite the model being grounded amid safety concerns.

In July, the Department of Defence put in an order for a new Learjet 45 after the Government backed down from an earlier decision to buy a 40-seater jet. It cited reasons of costs at a time when the economy was experiencing a downturn.

However, in August, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in the US ordered that the Learjet 45 be grounded, after the discovery of a potential defect in the tail of the jet that could cause pilots to lose control of the plane. The problem had first come to light in March when the crew of a Learjet 45 reported vibration and severe pitch problems while in flight.

“During our investigation we determined that the configuration and quality controls over the production of these parts were so deficient that we do not have confidence that the airplane can be operated safely for any period of time,” the FAA order said.

A spokesman for the Department of Defence said that it was aware of the problems and that Bombardier, the company that manufactures the jet, had given assurances that it would be resolved before the state took delivery of the jet in mid-December.

He also pointed out that the contract to purchase the Learjet had not yet been signed.