moughoun
05-18-2004, 02:21 AM
Plans to purchase or lease 6 C17s or 12 A400M aircraft are back on the table for the Canadian Air Force as part of a policy review by the new Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Feds weigh billion-dollar air transport plan
David Pugliese
CanWest News Service
May 17, 2004
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A billion-dollar plan by the Canadian Forces to acquire giant transport aircraft is back on the table, two years after it was derailed by former prime minister Jean Chretien.
The plan, which could see the outright purchase of the planes or a long-term lease, is being considered as part of Prime Minister Paul Martin's international policy review. Some military officials see such aircraft as a necessity if Martin wants the Canadian Forces to play more of a role on the world stage.
The planes are also needed to respond to domestic disasters; they could move equipment and troops to cope with everything from a forest fire or earthquake in B.C. to ice storms in the east.
In early 2002, Chretien scuttled an air force plan to buy either six Boeing C-17 strategic airlift planes or up to 12 European-built Airbus A400M aircraft. He called the estimated $1-billion expense too rich for his government, and argued that if the military needed to get anywhere fast they could rent aircraft.
Later, Defence Minister John McCallum announced Canada would look at joining a NATO group that would share flying time on a fleet of planes.
But the NATO plan is now bogged down in politics. European countries want to purchase the A400M aircraft to be shared by the countries, while the U.S. and Canada propose using the C-17.
Feds weigh billion-dollar air transport plan
David Pugliese
CanWest News Service
May 17, 2004
ADVERTISEMENT
A billion-dollar plan by the Canadian Forces to acquire giant transport aircraft is back on the table, two years after it was derailed by former prime minister Jean Chretien.
The plan, which could see the outright purchase of the planes or a long-term lease, is being considered as part of Prime Minister Paul Martin's international policy review. Some military officials see such aircraft as a necessity if Martin wants the Canadian Forces to play more of a role on the world stage.
The planes are also needed to respond to domestic disasters; they could move equipment and troops to cope with everything from a forest fire or earthquake in B.C. to ice storms in the east.
In early 2002, Chretien scuttled an air force plan to buy either six Boeing C-17 strategic airlift planes or up to 12 European-built Airbus A400M aircraft. He called the estimated $1-billion expense too rich for his government, and argued that if the military needed to get anywhere fast they could rent aircraft.
Later, Defence Minister John McCallum announced Canada would look at joining a NATO group that would share flying time on a fleet of planes.
But the NATO plan is now bogged down in politics. European countries want to purchase the A400M aircraft to be shared by the countries, while the U.S. and Canada propose using the C-17.