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Aviation News

Category: Army

British MoD under pressure to act quickly on aircrew cancer claims amid growing concerns

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The U.K. government is investigating claims that aircrew were exposed to toxic fumes from military helicopters, leading to cancer diagnoses, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) under scrutiny, according to a BBC news report. At least six cases have been settled out of court, with many more aircrew and families pursuing legal action. The MoD is now investigating the extent of the issue among both active and veteran personnel across the RAF, Army, and Navy.

SeaKing HC4 2002
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Kevin H. Tierney, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Firefighter stands watch over Black Hawk Crew Chief after Potomac crash

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Sean Wathen, a probationary firefighter with the D.C. Fire Department and a former Marine, stood guard over the body of Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara for approximately four hours after the soldier was recovered from the Potomac River. O’Hara was the crew chief of the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport on Feb. 5th.


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The absence of the Z-20 in Tibet earthquake relief efforts

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The recent earthquake in Dingri County, Tibet, has prompted discussion regarding the absence of the Chinese-made Z-20 helicopter in relief efforts, according to Singapore Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao. While the Z-20 is promoted as a multi-functional helicopter designed for high-altitude environments like the Tibetan Plateau, it has not been reported in official Chinese media coverage of the disaster response. This absence is particularly notable given the Chinese military’s emphasis on promoting domestically produced equipment.

Z-20KA helihoisting vehicle at CCAS2023 (20230724130019)
N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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KAI delivers first production LAH-1 helicopters to South Korean Army

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Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has achieved a major milestone with the delivery of the first two production LAH-1 ‘Mir-on’ light armed helicopters to the Republic of Korea Army. This event marks the culmination of a development program that began in June 2015, and the successful completion of the development phase in November 2022. The initial delivery is part of a broader plan to fully integrate the helicopters into the Army’s forces by 2031, replacing the ageing 500MD and AH-1S Cobra fleets.


Photo: KAI
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KAI inks deal to supply Surion helicopters to Iraq

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Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) has secured its first export order for the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter. The deal, valued at approximately $93.4million, involves the sale of the domestically developed helicopter to the Iraqi government. This contract not only represents a major win for KAI but also signals the growing international interest in South Korean defence technology.

KAI KUH-1 Surion
Photo by ROKAF (2013), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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