The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence plans to set up a task force to investigate recent air safety problems in the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF).
The decision is understood to have been triggered by concerns following the latest two crashes, in November and December, of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s. Four Lockheed Martin F-16s have also crashed since March 1998, and a total of six pilots has died.
The defence ministry has appointed Armed Forces University president Hsia Ying-chou to set up the task force by the end of January. Defence minister Wu Shih-wen says a report should be issued within three to four months.
The task force is expected to include government and industry representatives, as well as academics, who will be posted with air force units to identify possible safety problems.
The first Mirage, a two-seat 2000-5D, crashed on 15 October off the coast of Hsinchu, when the Snecma M53 engine failed after ingesting a bird. The crew ejected safely, and were rescued.
The second, a single-seat 2000-5E, crashed on 15 December off the coast of Ilan, killing the pilot. After this crash the RoCAF Mirage fleet was grounded for inspection, returning to operational status on 4 January.
The air force grounded its F-16 fleet twice last year as a result of crashes, and is trying to claim compensation from Pratt & Whitney after finding that failure of the F100-220 engine was to blame in an 18 August crash.
• The Taiwanese air force has taken delivery of the last of 130 Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) Ching Kuo Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDF).The last two aircraft were handed over on 14 January at AIDC's Shalu plant.
The IDF has been AIDC's biggest production programme in recent years. Plans to buy 250 IDFs were dropped after 60 Mirage 2000-5s and 150 F-16s were ordered in 1992.
Source: Flight International
