Engine shortage dogs Portuguese AW101 fleet

Portugal’s fleet of AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin helicopters for search and rescue (SAR), is being prevented from reaching higher levels of readiness due to problems with the support of the type’s Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines.
At present, five of the 12-aircraft fleet operated by the Portuguese air force’s 751 Sqn are out of service, either due to the unavailability of engines or spare parts for them, says AgustaWestland, who runs sustainment activities for the nation’s Merlin fleet from Montijo air base near Lisbon.
Availability of the five aircraft based at Montijo in 2012 was at 70%, with a similar figure achieved so far this year.
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