It is reported that the South Yorkshire police force is at risk of having its new MD900 permanently grounded after reportedly being unable to source spare parts from the manufacturer. This comes at a time when the Dutch police has cancelled its delivery of eight Explorers due to missed delivery deadlines.

“MD have a problem, as they are short of money – they are looking for new backers and so far they haven’t found any,” said Bryn Elliot, editor of Police Aviation News. “There have been various rescue plans put forward. They were supposed to be rescued in December but it

didn’t happen.”

However, Jeremy Awanet, md of Police Aviation Services, told EBAN that the reported shortage is not supported by his own findings. PAS, which operates and services MD Explorers as well as other aircraft, reports that all of its Explorers are flying normally for its customers. While it has been reported that the South Yorkshire police force has had problems with its aircraft’s availability, Awanet says that Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Humberside police forces have all refuted the claims.

“I have had one customer say that he is currently experiencing a 97% availability from his Explorer and other customers give their percentages close to the 90s.”

South Yorkshire police did not want to comment on this issue until further talks with MD have taken place.

In Holland, Corps Rural Police Services (KLPD) has reportedly dissolved its order for eight Explorers after MDHI failed to meet the

latest deadline.

KLPD signed a contract in March 2001 for the helicopters with added extensive and weighty equipment requirements. The first of the

eight Explorers was due in December 2001 but has since failed to meet alternative deadlines.

“According to the Dutch, there’s no manufacturing going on in their factory at all,” said Elliot. “If this is true then it is quite a serious position; not many aircraft can just come to a grinding halt and not have problems.”

“No matter who the manufacturer is, you are never going to have every spare part on the shelf all the time,” said Awanet. “Nothing would focus my mind more if there were problems, but I’m pleased to say that we are not experiencing any.”

MD Helicopters were unavailable for comment at the time of going

to press.