"I am confident, based on the assurances I have received, that safety is not the issue here."
The ministry report says because the need to keep the helicopters flying, the military is constantly deferring operational level maintenance - creating a "bow-wave of deferred maintenance".
Engineers were finding corrosion or vibration damage and while cumulative deferral might be considered safe, the report said it was reasonable to assume the "damage will worsen the longer it is left".
Damage was "being found in areas where such corrosion or damage has not been seen before", the report said.
The corrosion was probably caused by a lack of awareness by staff, and training deficiencies, the air force said.
It was hard to get staff to go with the helicopters when posted at sea for six to eight months.
"This unwillingness to serve at sea results in No6 Squadron having difficulty retaining people with deep knowledge of the Seasprites," the report said.
Air Vice-Marshall Peter Stockwell said the Seasprites were ideal for their naval role and "absolutely safe to fly".
Deferring maintenance was tightly controlled, and airworthiness was reviewed constantly. He said deferment was often necessary when the aircraft were on frigates at sea. "It is very carefully managed," he said.
- NZPA
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