US grounds Chinook chopper fleet over engine fires

Tags: Defence International News

The US military has stopped its fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters from flying due to the threat of a helicopter engine fire.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The US military operates approximately 400 Chinook helicopters which are medium-lift, multi-role helicopters manufactured by Boeing.

• They perform a variety of tasks in military operations.

• The Chinook fleet has been halted by the US military because it is suspected that some of its engines may catch fire.

India's concern :

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) too operates a fleet of Chinook helicopters.

• The IAF operates a fleet of 15 Chinook helicopters and it has not grounded them so far.

• Chinook was inducted into IAF in 2019.

• One helicopter of Chinook unit is based in Chandigarh whereas the other is based at Mohanbari airbase in Assam.

• The Indian Air Force has sought details from US defence manufacturer Boeing on the reasons for shutting down its entire fleet of Chinook helicopters.

About Chinook Helicopters :

• The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined, heavy-lift helicopter.

• It is developed by the American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems).

• Each helicopter can carry goods and cargo up to 9.6 tonnes.

• It can provide assistance during disaster relief, medical, search and rescue missions, aircraft recovery and parachute drops.