Are we there yet? Army pushes forward with troubled scout helicopter.

For the medical evacuation helicopters, which are not allowed to fly with open doors, the Army decided to install air conditioners. The service plans to purchase 84 medevac aircraft, Barton says. The Army will also install air conditioners on VIP aircraft, of which it plans to buy 14.

Barton says that the heat flaw is not a big problem because it was discovered during the operational test phase, after which the Army expects to make changes.

As for the finding that Lakota could not carry two critically ill patients, EADS officials contend that it's simply not true.

"There is no lack of litter space for the medevac mission," says Randy Hutcherson, vice president of rotorcraft systems at EADS.

McQueary disagreed, asserting in his report that "with two litters there is not sufficient room for the medic to provide immediate medical care to the patients."

There were initial concerns about where the medical gear was going to be stored, Hutcherson offers as a possible explanation. An equipment bag was going to be strapped inside the cabin, but once they started flying, operators "found that there are better ways to do it."

EMAIL COMMENTS TO BWAGNER@NDIA.ORG