Australia has grounded its Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the second time in two months after fumes were again detected in the aircraft's cockpit.
On 25 June, the two-man crew of a Tiger flying in Australia's Shoalwater Bay training area landed safely after fumes were detected in the cockpit, says the Australian army.
This is the second time in two months that cockpit fumes have grounded Australia's Tigers. On 16 May, the fleet was suspended for two weeks after a Tiger crew detected fumes in the cockpit.
It is not clear if the aircraft involved in the 25 June incident is the same one involved in the earlier incident.
©Commonwealth of Australia
Australia's Department of Defence said the earlier grounding was lifted on 30 May after the Army Operational Airworthiness Authority issued "a detailed assessment and a recommendation from the Technical Airworthiness Authority to resume flying operations".
Australia has 22 Tigers. The type has yet to become fully operational in Australia, but final testing has been planned for late 2012.
Source: Flight International
