Why Is the Army Accepting Unfinished Apache Helicopters?

April 18, 2013

The Army has officially accepted seven Apache Guardian helicopters from Boeing despite that the helicopters don't have transmissions systems installed, according to an article in AOL Defense.

A subcontractor for Boeing is trying to catch up on building and installing the transmissions, but until they do the helicopters  are “unflyable.”

And now Congressional staffers are asking questions. From the article:

"The question is, are they still behind, [and] why would the Army be taking delivery of aircraft that aren't complete?" one Hill staffer told AOL Defense. "Normally the government doesn't sign for an aircraft that is missing a major component, and the contractor doesn't get paid for it until it's complete.... Boeing obviously needs to get a handle on this."

The staffer did not expect the taxpayer to have to bear any additional costs for the helicopters, since Boeing and its subcontractor should pay to install the belated transmission out of their own pockets. 

Read more about the importance of the Apache helicopter and the missing parts in the full AOL Defense article.

Image from Flickr user alandberning.

Topics: National Security

Related Content: Contractor Accountability, Defense, Other Aircraft

Authors: Andre Francisco

Submitted by skyhawkmaintainer at: April 18, 2013

This is tantamount to buying a car without a power train and then having to have it installed later. You have no idea if it will function. I've done acceptance and transfer inspections of Naval aircraft and whatever we transferred had to be all there, and whatever we got from the Marines was a piece of flying junk, but at least it flew in to us.

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