Heliport
27th Jan 2004, 09:38
From the Globe and Mail Epithets flying as firms vie for helicopter contract.
OTTAWAhe two helicopter companies in the running to replace Canada's fleet of Sea Kings have started a public punch-up, launching a series of allegations that their rival's aircraft will be unreliable or even unsafe.
Team Cormorant and Sikorsky are the two manufacturers bidding for the $3-billion contract, which is scheduled to be awarded in the summer.
Team Cormorant is arguing that the Sikorsky H-92 is just a prototype that has never been bought by any air force and that has never flown in a sea-based, military operation. Cormorant is publishing an ad in today's edition of the Ottawa-based Hill Times weekly denigrating the H-92 as an "unproven prototype still looking for its first purchaser."
"Canada would be the launch customer, and the introduction of a totally new and unproven aircraft is fraught with risks for the buyer, in this case the government of Canada and the men and women of the Canadian Forces," Team Cormorant's Gabriel Galleazzi said in a recent interview with industry newsletter Defence Policy Review.
Mr. Galleazzi added that the H-92 "was not designed to be a military aircraft or more specifically a maritime helicopter flying from ship decks."
Sikorsky shot back that the Cormorant is slower, costlier and still suffering from a variety of technical problems. The Canadian Forces bought 15 Cormorants in 1998 for search-and-rescue operations. The helicopters have performed some dramatic rescues, but have also suffered from a variety of problems with key pieces of equipment.
"I find it very unusual that an aircraft that first flew 20 years ago still has an availability rate here in Canada of 50 per cent," Sikorsky's Lloyd Noseworthy said in an interview. "Certainly I would be concerned as a buyer to take on 28 more aircraft that are exhibiting those kinds of problems."
Mr. Noseworthy promised that Sikorsky can deliver its first H-92 to the Canadian government within four years after the signing of a contract.
"There is no likelihood at all that this aircraft will be any later than what [the department of National Defence] is asking for," he said.
He said the H-92 is designed according to the most modern of standards.
"The [Cormorant] ad shows that they are very concerned that we have a better, safer and more cost-effective aircraft," he said.
Mr. Galleazzi, however, predicted that the H-92 would be at least three years late. Sikorsky has started production of a civilian version of the aircraft. If it wins the Canadian contract, Sikorsky will have to start producing a military version of the aircraft that can fit on the Canadian navy's frigates, with a folding tail and rotor.
The government has promised to impose penalties of up to $36-million in the case of late delivery. Cormorant argues that the maximum fine is too low. Quick delivery of the helicopters is deemed to be crucial, given the sorry state of the 40-year-old Sea King helicopters.
Sikorsky is "so early on in its development that we suspect it will be at least seven or eight years after contract award before the first maritime [H-92] is ready for delivery," Mr. Galleazzi said.
In addition, Cormorant is arguing that the Canadian government has picked the wrong method to select a winning helicopter. The contract will go to the company that offers its helicopter at the lowest cost, given that both Sikorsky and Cormorant have passed the previous technical competition.
"If the Cormorant costs $1 more than our competitor, it won't be chosen. That's because the lowest price selection process requires that the cheapest helicopter be purchased. No ifs, ands or buts -- and nothing else is compared," Cormorant said in today's ad.
Wonder what Mr Noseworthy will say tomorrow. :D
OTTAWAhe two helicopter companies in the running to replace Canada's fleet of Sea Kings have started a public punch-up, launching a series of allegations that their rival's aircraft will be unreliable or even unsafe.
Team Cormorant and Sikorsky are the two manufacturers bidding for the $3-billion contract, which is scheduled to be awarded in the summer.
Team Cormorant is arguing that the Sikorsky H-92 is just a prototype that has never been bought by any air force and that has never flown in a sea-based, military operation. Cormorant is publishing an ad in today's edition of the Ottawa-based Hill Times weekly denigrating the H-92 as an "unproven prototype still looking for its first purchaser."
"Canada would be the launch customer, and the introduction of a totally new and unproven aircraft is fraught with risks for the buyer, in this case the government of Canada and the men and women of the Canadian Forces," Team Cormorant's Gabriel Galleazzi said in a recent interview with industry newsletter Defence Policy Review.
Mr. Galleazzi added that the H-92 "was not designed to be a military aircraft or more specifically a maritime helicopter flying from ship decks."
Sikorsky shot back that the Cormorant is slower, costlier and still suffering from a variety of technical problems. The Canadian Forces bought 15 Cormorants in 1998 for search-and-rescue operations. The helicopters have performed some dramatic rescues, but have also suffered from a variety of problems with key pieces of equipment.
"I find it very unusual that an aircraft that first flew 20 years ago still has an availability rate here in Canada of 50 per cent," Sikorsky's Lloyd Noseworthy said in an interview. "Certainly I would be concerned as a buyer to take on 28 more aircraft that are exhibiting those kinds of problems."
Mr. Noseworthy promised that Sikorsky can deliver its first H-92 to the Canadian government within four years after the signing of a contract.
"There is no likelihood at all that this aircraft will be any later than what [the department of National Defence] is asking for," he said.
He said the H-92 is designed according to the most modern of standards.
"The [Cormorant] ad shows that they are very concerned that we have a better, safer and more cost-effective aircraft," he said.
Mr. Galleazzi, however, predicted that the H-92 would be at least three years late. Sikorsky has started production of a civilian version of the aircraft. If it wins the Canadian contract, Sikorsky will have to start producing a military version of the aircraft that can fit on the Canadian navy's frigates, with a folding tail and rotor.
The government has promised to impose penalties of up to $36-million in the case of late delivery. Cormorant argues that the maximum fine is too low. Quick delivery of the helicopters is deemed to be crucial, given the sorry state of the 40-year-old Sea King helicopters.
Sikorsky is "so early on in its development that we suspect it will be at least seven or eight years after contract award before the first maritime [H-92] is ready for delivery," Mr. Galleazzi said.
In addition, Cormorant is arguing that the Canadian government has picked the wrong method to select a winning helicopter. The contract will go to the company that offers its helicopter at the lowest cost, given that both Sikorsky and Cormorant have passed the previous technical competition.
"If the Cormorant costs $1 more than our competitor, it won't be chosen. That's because the lowest price selection process requires that the cheapest helicopter be purchased. No ifs, ands or buts -- and nothing else is compared," Cormorant said in today's ad.
Wonder what Mr Noseworthy will say tomorrow. :D