The Australian Army has suspended Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter flying operations for training activities due to a concern following the detection of fumes in the cockpit of one of the aircraft.

The Australian Army has a fleet of 22 Tiger helicopters, 19 of which are in the fully capable configuration operating in the fleet. The remaining three aircraft are completing a retrofit program and should return to the fleet later in the year.

Army’s Tiger fleet is not yet in full operational service. It will become fully operational once its capabilities and maturity have been fully tested and proven to the satisfaction of Army and final testing is planned for the end of 2012.