P7 says - Two area’s of ‘real’ concern.
“One blade was dented in two spots and requires replacement and there is a dented window.”
Now, I’ve no idea the cost of a replacement blade for a Black Hawk; but its safe to say they ain’t cheap, similarly, I’ve no idea the cost of a ‘new’ window, but again; betcha socks they’re significant. So, time, money and effort required to repair a ‘minor’ strike.
Then there is the down time cost to calculate – once again not insignificant when you add the cost of replacing the aircraft while it’s ‘in the shed’. You could drag in the cost of diverting maintenance personnel from scheduled maintenance to ‘repair’ duties and add that to the bill.
“[while] two Black Hawks, from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were on a security mission for the United Nations General Assembly above the Midland Beach section of the island.”
Not only is there a pretty hefty repair bill but there is also an uncompleted ‘security’ mission. Clearly, this was a required operation. They don’t just despatch Black Hawks on security missions for laughs or a joy flight for the boys. So, in theory at least, there was a hole in the security knitting.
A small drone worth peanuts can disable one of the military’s finest, cost a small fortune in repairs and potentially jeopardise security.
It may not have been a ‘catastrophic’ event – not a real Glaswegian one – but it seems to me that the wee drone caused enough completely unnecessary trouble and expense to be worthy of straightforward- cash and no bull-pooh – type of control and regulation. Bet my boots the US Army mechanics and pilots would like to meet the drone operator; just for a quiet little chat.
Darren 6D (AGAD) will no doubt move swiftly and with purpose to save the Australian tax payer such similar expense and depravation of security services – won’t he?
“One blade was dented in two spots and requires replacement and there is a dented window.”
Now, I’ve no idea the cost of a replacement blade for a Black Hawk; but its safe to say they ain’t cheap, similarly, I’ve no idea the cost of a ‘new’ window, but again; betcha socks they’re significant. So, time, money and effort required to repair a ‘minor’ strike.
Then there is the down time cost to calculate – once again not insignificant when you add the cost of replacing the aircraft while it’s ‘in the shed’. You could drag in the cost of diverting maintenance personnel from scheduled maintenance to ‘repair’ duties and add that to the bill.
“[while] two Black Hawks, from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were on a security mission for the United Nations General Assembly above the Midland Beach section of the island.”
Not only is there a pretty hefty repair bill but there is also an uncompleted ‘security’ mission. Clearly, this was a required operation. They don’t just despatch Black Hawks on security missions for laughs or a joy flight for the boys. So, in theory at least, there was a hole in the security knitting.
A small drone worth peanuts can disable one of the military’s finest, cost a small fortune in repairs and potentially jeopardise security.
It may not have been a ‘catastrophic’ event – not a real Glaswegian one – but it seems to me that the wee drone caused enough completely unnecessary trouble and expense to be worthy of straightforward- cash and no bull-pooh – type of control and regulation. Bet my boots the US Army mechanics and pilots would like to meet the drone operator; just for a quiet little chat.
Darren 6D (AGAD) will no doubt move swiftly and with purpose to save the Australian tax payer such similar expense and depravation of security services – won’t he?