F111s Grounded - Future In Doubt

Chris Evans - Shadow Minister for Defence

Media Statement - 27 June 2002

Today's report that the RAAF's fleet of F111 aircraft has been grounded for the second time this year highlights concerns over their future.

It is thankful that the two crew of the plane affected are safe.

The problem reported today follows the discovery of cracks in the wings of F111s earlier this year that grounded the fleet until second hand replacement wings could be purchased.

In the face of all these problems the Government's claim that our F111s can continue to fly to 2015 looks increasingly unrealistic.

We now know that the Government has agreed to buy the US Joint Strike Fighter to replace the F111s and that this new plane will not be available before 2015.

In the meantime the total annual flying hours of the F111 fleet has dropped significantly over the last four years, from 4400 hours to just 2500 hours, which is well below the target set by the RAAF.

For every hour flown the F111s require 30 hours of maintenance.

At the same time the Government has admitted that the cost of maintaining the fleet is rising dramatically, with F111s costing $125,000 an hour to fly.

We are paying more money for less flying hours as the aircraft age.

On figures provided by the Government the cost of the F111 fleet will double by 2015. The cost of keeping these planes flying to 2015 will be prohibitive.

The Government should abandon the fiction that our F111s will continue to fly until 2015 and develop a realistic plan for their replacement.