memphiz
07-22-2004, 06:51 PM
The federal government is finally ready to announce its choice for a military helicopter to replace Canada's aging Sea Kings.
Newly installed Defence Minister Bill Graham will make the announcement Friday morning at the Shearwater air base near Halifax.
The government promised in December it intended to buy 28 maritime helicopters to replace the Sea King fleet, which has been plagued by several serious accidents and repeated mechanical failures in recent years.
The new choppers will be used for defence, surveillance, search-and-rescue missions and disaster aid.
There are two options for the replacements: the Sikorsky S-92, built by U.S.-based Sikorsky, and the Cormorant by EH Industries of England.
The latter is essentially the same craft Canada contracted to buy in 1992. The Liberals cancelled that deal after they were elected over in 1993, calling it a "Cadillac'' expenditure the country could not afford. The government paid $500 million in cancellation fees.
Former defence minister David Pratt said earlier this year it would be at least another four years before any of the new choppers make their official debut. The first new helicopter is scheduled to be operational by mid-2008.
Canada's Sea Kings were purchased in the 1960s, making most of them older than the crews who fly them. Every one hour of flight now requires about 30 hours of maintenance.
Ten people have died in four fatal Sea King crashes over the years and mishaps have resulted in 13 aircraft being withdrawn from the original 41-helicopter fleet.
http://www.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/images/20040722/helicopter_announcement_040722/160_S92.jpg
Sikorsky S-92
Newly installed Defence Minister Bill Graham will make the announcement Friday morning at the Shearwater air base near Halifax.
The government promised in December it intended to buy 28 maritime helicopters to replace the Sea King fleet, which has been plagued by several serious accidents and repeated mechanical failures in recent years.
The new choppers will be used for defence, surveillance, search-and-rescue missions and disaster aid.
There are two options for the replacements: the Sikorsky S-92, built by U.S.-based Sikorsky, and the Cormorant by EH Industries of England.
The latter is essentially the same craft Canada contracted to buy in 1992. The Liberals cancelled that deal after they were elected over in 1993, calling it a "Cadillac'' expenditure the country could not afford. The government paid $500 million in cancellation fees.
Former defence minister David Pratt said earlier this year it would be at least another four years before any of the new choppers make their official debut. The first new helicopter is scheduled to be operational by mid-2008.
Canada's Sea Kings were purchased in the 1960s, making most of them older than the crews who fly them. Every one hour of flight now requires about 30 hours of maintenance.
Ten people have died in four fatal Sea King crashes over the years and mishaps have resulted in 13 aircraft being withdrawn from the original 41-helicopter fleet.
http://www.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/images/20040722/helicopter_announcement_040722/160_S92.jpg
Sikorsky S-92