RNZAF NH90 helicopter flying after temporary pause

Updated

A 48-hour pause on flying of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH90 medium utility helicopters fleet has ended and the fleet is again available to fly from today. 

The pause, which came into effect on Tuesday morning, followed the fatal crash of an Australian Army MRH90 Taipan helicopter in the Whitsundays, off Queensland, on Friday night during Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The MRH90 Taipan and NH90 are the same aircraft type. 

The Chief of the RNZAF, Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark, said the pause on flying of the eight New Zealand NH90 helicopters had been a precautionary approach.

“The pause was so the Air Force could conduct a risk assessment. That assessment looked at airworthiness and safety, including systems and processes, as well as any new information from the Australian Defence Force, other users, and the manufacturer.

“We have not identified any new hazards or elevated risks that are not already considered within the RNZAF NH90 airworthiness framework. Accordingly I have directed that the operating pause is lifted without any restrictions.” 

Air Vice-Marshal Clark said the pause had not been a “grounding”, which is a formal declaration by regulators that an aircraft type cannot fly.

The NH90s are operated by No. 3 Squadron based at Ohakea in Manawatū.  Three of the helicopters are currently deployed on Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia and were not involved in Friday’s incident.