One of the army’s bell 206 helicopter was grounded for a while owing to maintenance issues with its engine which were felt to be serious, a source in the Office of the Chief of Staff has informed this newspaper.

The source, who debunked reports in the Kaieteur News on Sunday and yesterday, which stated that the chopper exploded at Tacama and has remained there ever since, said the chopper was once again serviceable. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, insisted that the chopper never blew up, but said that some issues with the chopper’s engine developed following a start-up attempt by the pilot.

The Kaieteur News reports had said that the engine had blown up and an examination had revealed that the turbine had exploded, rendering the aircraft useless.

However, the source insisted that the chopper had been flying over Lindo Creek and around the country, but was grounded after the problem developed. This newspaper was also told that the problem was felt to be serious.

“We had an issue with engine maintenance and a part had to be replaced and it is again serviceable,” the source insisted, though refusing to get into the specifics of the engine trouble.

In the face of acid critics about the choice of chopper the army has made it clear that it is comfortable with the acquisition, saying the helicopters were inspected by its engineers and were affordable to maintain.

At a press conference in early April, Army Chief Commodore Gary Best in support of the army’s choice, explained that the helicopters formed part of a strategic plan by the GDF to resource its aviation unit with reconnaissance, medium life and troop transport capability over a phased period. He had said too that the helicopters were primarily for reconnaissance missions and tactical insertions of forward exploration troops.

Best’s stance on the issue of consultation, which also formed part of critics’ assertions was that “the degree  to which the army consults with experts in the helicopter or aviation industry is its business and not the fantasy of acid critics.”