Torcher - For sure the the AW101 (EH101/Merlin/Cormorant) has not been without it's problems, but at least it has 30 minute run dry time and not certified through some dodgy loop hole.
At the time of the order for the Cyclone the Canadians could have had an 'off the shelf' aircraft with proven maritime/ASW capability and commonality with another in-service aircraft.
Pretty much every aircraft/system will go through the 'bath tub reliability curve' (
Bathtub curve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) and experience initial (excuse the term) 'infant mortality failures'. For that reason I'd never buy the first model/version of a new car, I'd wait for the 'mark II' version and hopefully the manufacturer has had the opportunity to iron out all/some of the problems with the first model.
Maybe this would be a good rule for the Canadian government to follow but I guess it's too late for the Cyclone (unless they ditch it as Sikorsky have obviously failed to fulfil their contractural obligations and buy something that's proven - and no not necessarily the AW101).
