The DND now
says that CH-149 Operational Availability rates of below 40% led to the decision to
buy the mothballed USMC VH-71 Presidential Helicopter fleet for C$164M.
Since its introduction in 2001, the Cormorant fleet has been plagued by parts availability and technical support problems, significantly reducing its mission readiness for both training and operations," said the Sept. 1, 2010, briefing, obtained by The Canadian Press under access to information.
The Defence Department did not answer questions about the Cormorant’s service record and is now refusing to conduct any interviews about the aircraft, especially where it relates to its primary search-and-rescue role.
Still, there are still some optimists out there:
New Democrat defence critic Jack Harris says the U.S. choppers, which include nine airframes and spare parts, should be upgraded to flying condition and added to Canada’s rescue fleet. "They could easily reconfigure these helicopters for search and rescue," he said Wednesday.
The same article says that the DND is reportedly now looking at a V-22 buy for long-range SAR.
Meantime delivery of the first six interim spec CH-148s has slipped again, with UTC now saying that only two or three Cyclones will be delivered by the end of this month, as opposed to the
previous goal of all six. Sikorsky appears to have the DND by the balls, since a
Canadian government briefing from last November
...urged both politicians and defence officials to take a deep breath and not get involved in any further debate – or request changes. “It is also paramount that DND not interfere or influence the conduct of activities, as this would provide Sikorsky rationale for excusable delay.”
I/C