News Limited web article confirms that the crash of the Australian Black Hawk was related to a mechanical failure. Australian Defence Force has conducted research into reports of cracking of the internal panel. Air Systems Branch, an arm of U.S Army Research Labs has also published a study into the vibrational analysis of the helicopter rotor machinery. To date the underlying causes of UH-60 failure, are yet to be determined.
Sydney Morning Herald report estimates the recovery operation in Fiji, at a hefty price tag of A$8 million.
Perhaps the Fiji episode may have opened a new chapter of scrutiny in the murky track record of mechanical failures of the Black Hawk, used extensively by Australia, UK and the US military.
Here are other occurrences of Black Hawk crashes reported by media sources.
Bagram Airforce base, Afghanistan-Jan 30th 2003
Kuwait- Feb 25th 2003.
Fort Drum, New York- March 12th 2003.
Karbala, Iraq-April 2003
Tikrit, Iraq- Nov 8th 2003.
Florence, South Carolina-April 26th 2004.
Waco, Texas-Nov 2004.
Fort Hood, Texas-Nov 30th 2004.
Columbia, January 2005.
Al-Anbar province, Iraq- Aug 8th 2006.
Seattle, WA- Dec 20th 2006.
12km East of Tal Afar, Iraq-Jan 5th 2007.
Diyala Province, Iraq- Jan 20th 2007.
A news aggregator of Black Hawk crashes, provides a treasure trove of similar incidents.
Project of Government Oversight (POGO) website provides additional resources on Black Hawk manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft.
This is an excerpt of an article by News Channel 8 WTNH:
Team 8 Investigates
Problems with Sikorsky helicopters?
(WTNH, May 10, 2006 11:00 PM) _ Sikorsky Aircraft has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the Defense Department that would stop the government from releasing documents to News Channel 8 on quality control problems on the Blackhawk helicopter.
Team 8 Investigator Alan Cohn broke the story three years ago about defective parts being installed on Blackhawk helicopters.
This case is unique. It's not often the Defense Department and the Bush Administration go to court and fight for the release of what a defense contractor believes is confidential information to a reporter.
The question, the Defense Department tells us, is not if Sikorsky has been cited for continued quality problems on the Blackhawk, but how many times.
It's a simple, obvious question and with so many servicemen depending on Blackhawk helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan, never has it been never more important.
Has Sikorsky fixed the quality control problems Team 8 first uncovered three years ago? If it has, why is the company blocking News Channel 8's efforts to find out.
"The fact there are obstacles being placed on the truth coming out really bothers me that there are priorities other than just making sure the troops are safe," says Danielle Brian, Project on Govt. Oversight.
In May 2003, News Channel 8 reported some of Sikorsky's own employees were saying defective parts from subcontractors were slipping through the company's quality assurance system and onto aircraft.
They provided us with this corrective action request from the Defense Department agency which oversees Sikorsky listing 19-quality issues including installation of unqualified parts and vendor quality control.
Sikorsky's response at the time; it's fixed its quality control problems.
Is that true? To find out, we filed a Freedom of Information request with the Pentagon asking whether Sikorsky has been issued any additional corrective action requests.
Now, the question itself is setting off a historic legal battle here at Federal Court in Washington, DC. For the first time ever, a defense contractor, Sikorsky Aircraft, is suing the defense department over the release to News Channel 8 of documents concerning quality control problems on the Blackhawk helicopter."
Initially, the Pentagon turned down our request for documents, then it suddenly reversed itself in December.
"We took another look at it and decided that the corrective action request you asked for should be released," says Richard Finnegan, Defense Contract Mgt. Agency.
The decision was made at the highest level.
"There is an appeal authority here that is the Chief of Staff," says Finnegan.
And as soon as the Defense Department told the company it was releasing the documents, Sikorsky slapped the Pentagon with a lawsuit.
"For us this is unique,
Government watch dogs and aerospace industry analysts we talked to say the case is fascinating. On one hand the military is spending billions on new Blackhawks. On the other hand in a rare push, the Pentagon is trying to release documents that could embarrass one of its most important contractors
"What it means to me is there are people inside the government who wanted to make sure you got this information."
"I could see the government is gaming this as wanting to release this information to embarrass Sikorsky to improve in manufacturing processes," says John Pike, globalsecurity.org
In its suit, the company is clearly concerned what the records we're seeking say, "Competitors would undoubtedly use the information (in the car's) "to unfairly disparage Sikorsky's manufacturing processes and quality assurance system in the eyes of Sikorsky's customers and potential customers."
"Is that something that is taken into consideration?
"No that's no part of the law. Embarrassment isn't an issue under FOIA," says Cathy Alphin, Defense Contract Mgt. Agency.
Sikorsky also warns if the documents are released, the company would seriously consider limiting the information it shares with the Defense Department in the future.
"My general view is these documents should probably be public," says Congressman Chris Shays. Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays has looked into quality problems on the Blackhawk helicopter in the past and says in a time of war, when lives are on the line and with the Blackhawk playing such an important role...
"My basic view is the tax payer provides the money and the taxpayer via the media has the right to know what's happening and what's not happening," says Shays.
What does Sikorsky have to say? Nothing. The company is declining comment saying the Freedom of Information Act is clear. The Justice Department is asking the court to throw out Sikorsky's law suit. If that doesn't happen it could be another year until the issue is resolved.
There is a second case very similar to this one and it involves another United Technologies company, Pratt and Whitney, which is also suing the Defense Department to block release to the Hartford Courant of records concerning quality problems on a military aircraft engine.
Video of flying in a Black Hawk over Iraq.
Back to Fiji Politics, the announced cancellations of the scheduled team marches in Wellington, is a disappointing start to New Zealand's premier Rugby international; a title which the Fiji Sevens team are defending.
(Above image: Image of historic fort in Sigatoka valley).
The historical Tongan fortress is located on the West Coast of Viti Levu, up towards the head waters of Sigatoka river.
The issue of having a central state Government is a question with a turbulent history in Fiji. The question of central authority then became a socio-religious conflict with tribal roots. The historical article by Fiji Times will perhaps prompt a much needed reflection on the forces of change in Fiji politics.
(Above: Image of a similar pacification by the Government troops in the Ba highlands at the same period, described in the F.T article.)
A letter to the Editor of the Fiji Times reminds the public, of the cost in having a native state within a state.
Corrupt natives
I AGREE with Eliki Gaunavou (FT 26/1) that one area that deserved an immediate mopping-up is the Ministry of Fijian Affairs including the NLTB and the Native Lands Commission dispute resolution tribunal.
Land title disputes are based on a history of tension within family communities and oral tradition. [Disputes] have and will continue to be at the centre of major disputes. [Disputes] have become increasingly important because of lease money. Whenever a dispute arises, lease money is likely to be withheld.
Consequently, local and foreign economic activities stagnate, children stay home or roam the streets, poor families get poorer and the inherent indigenous dependency syndrome on lease money aggravated.
Mr Gaunavou rightly concludes that continuing disputes over vanua titles contribute to a "corrupt native society" and calls for the abolition and replacement of the Fijian Affairs ministry with a Ministry of Native Affairs.
The Fijian Affairs ministry is in fact just that a ministry of native Fijian affairs. It begs more questions which have been raised many times before by your editorials.
Why should indigenous Fijians continue to be doubly governed, first under the Constitution and then reduced to be subjects of native regulations administered by the Ministry of Fijian Affairs?
Isn't it time for indigenous Fijians to be governed as full citizens of the Republic of Fiji and Rotuma just like any other citizen? After 36 years of independence, is not one government and one set of rules sufficient for all who call Fiji and Rotuma home?
Everyone wants to soar like an eagle, including indigenous people the world over.
Fijians have long known their disadvantage. They cannot soar as long as they are subjected to the currents of two laws the mainstream one and another especially just for them.
Morgan Tuimaleali'ifano
Suva
Club Em Designs
