Ping Monkey
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Air fleet on guard for thee ... sort of
THE CANADIAN PRESS - 3rd June 2009
http://www.calgarysun.com/news/canada/2009/06/03/9658266-sun.html
Funny, I can't think of single day in the last two years that we've had nine serviceable Auroras. ???
THE CANADIAN PRESS - 3rd June 2009
http://www.calgarysun.com/news/canada/2009/06/03/9658266-sun.html
OTTAWA -- Only half the surveillance aircraft and rescue helicopters guarding Canada's coastlines are available for duty on any given day, newly released figures show.
That has defence critics wondering how the country would cope with a major disaster.
Figures presented to a Senate committee show the air force is able to muster only nine of its 20 CP-140 aging maritime patrol aircraft on any given day for surveillance of the country's three coastlines.
And just seven of the 14 CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters, purchased just a few years ago, can be called upon for duty.
Figures for the antique CH-146 Sea Kings are even worse: A mere 10 out of 28 aircraft can be spooled up for operations aboard Canadian warships, defence officials admitted.
Rob Huebert of the University of Calgary said it's a condemnation of the convoluted, dysfunctional procurement systems that have sidetracked or delayed replacement planes and helicopters.
The air force is a "thin blue line" despite billions spent recently on heavy-lift transports and battlefield helicopters, Huebert said.
The country's premier air-defence fighter, the 1980s vintage CF-18 Hornet, has only 60 of 94 aircraft available.
Funny, I can't think of single day in the last two years that we've had nine serviceable Auroras. ???