Government‘s Commitment to New Helicopters Slipping Past 2005

[the patriot]

Friday January 26, 2001

Government‘s commitment to new helicopters slipping past 2005
JOHN WARD

OTTAWA (CP) - By the time the first of their replacements arrives, the military‘s Sea King helicopters will be more than 40 years old, older than many of their pilots. And the government‘s "commitment" to have the first replacement helicopters by the end of 2005 has slipped to "a strong desire."

The Defence Department is telling would-be suppliers not to worry about the 2005 delivery deadline.

Last summer, in announcing the $2.9-billion replacement program, both Defence Minister Art Eggleton and Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano, stressed the 2005 date.

"The bottom line for defence is to get the replacement by the year 2005," Eggleton told a news conference then. "I‘ve been saying that for some period of time. That is our aim and certainly we will want the procurement process to reflect that."

Eggleton continued: "In 2005 the first fully integrated helicopter . . . will arrive on our doorstep and they‘ll quickly be arriving thereafter until we get to the 28 number."

Gagliano chimed in: "We expect to get the first helicopter, integrated helicopter, ready to function by 2005. This is our commitment."

However, in answers to questions from some of the manufacturers looking to be on the contract, the department has watered down the requirement.

"Delivery by December 2005 is indeed a strong desire and in fact a key objective of the project office," the department said in answers posted on its web site.

"At present, this is not considered a "mandatory" requirement but is subject to change as the project and operational requirements and interaction with industry unfolds."

In fact, it goes on, no mandatory dates have been set down. It would be nice to have the first aircraft in hand by December 2005, the department says. It‘s not, however, a necessity.

A spokesman for Eggleton said the 2005 date remains an objective.

The 1994 defence white paper called for the Sea King replacements to be flying by the end of the 1990s. That timeline vanished as the government hemmed and hawed over the purchase.

The military delivered its helicopter specifications to the government in the summer of 1999. It was another year before Eggleton and Gagliano made their announcement.

"It just continues to slip," said Lee Myrhaugen, a retired colonel and Sea King pilot. "They have been continuously slipping since the beginning.

"They‘re going to be very fortunate to have the first one available by 2005."

Even if the first aircraft were to arrive in 2005, the 28th and final helicopter likely wouldn‘t be delivered until 2008. Delays could push that date back as there appears to be little incentive for the builders to push the delivery date.

Even after the choppers arrive, there will have to be a period of trials and training, meaning the Sea Kings will have to fly on through the overlap period.

By 2008, the oldest Sea Kings will be 45 years old, a decade or two older than most of the men and women who will be flying in them.

"We‘re going to be flying these birds for a long time," said Myrhaugen.

"At the end of the day, where we should have been flying new airplanes by now, it‘s going to be 2008.

He said the danger of a catastrophic grows as the Sea King retirement date keeps slipping.

"We‘re really dealing with bad odds now. We‘re really running out of lifelines."

© The Canadian Press, 2001
***********************************

-the patriot-

 

[2 Charlie]

And we act suprised, get real.

My prayers to the crews, Gob Bless and God‘s Speed in your missions.

 

[Yard Ape]

Aerospace industry lobbying against helicopter purchase policy
Wednesday March 21 5:29 PM EST
By JOHN WARD

OTTAWA (CP) - The aerospace industry wants the government to change the way it handles the purchase of new helicopters for use on warships.

Peter Smith, president of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, has been lobbying cabinet ministers, including deputy prime minister Herb Gray, to get the rules changed. Since the government produced its formal letter of interest last August, setting out details of its purchase proposal, interested companies have deluged the Defence Department with questions about the deal.

Not all the answers have been satisfactory, Smith said. Nor have they been speedy.

"I‘m a little frustrated with the delays in the process," Smith said in an interview.

He said he‘s speaking on behalf of his industry, which does not like the process.

One rule says the helicopter will have to be certified as airworthy at the time the contract is signed - likely early next year.

Since Sikorsky‘s candidate, the S-92, isn‘t scheduled for certification until next summer, that might push it out of the competition.

"It is rather unusual that they would demand certification at the time of signing of the contract as opposed to delivery," Smith said.

Another rule says the government will take the cheapest bid that meets requirements, rather than look for best value.

That could rule out EH Industries‘ Cormorant, a robust, three-engine machine that will have a hard time beating smaller, less expensive competitors.

However, EH argues that choosing the Cormorant will mean overall savings because it is already earmarked for search-and-rescue work. Commonality between the two fleets will save money, the firm says.

Smith said the decision to split the purchase into two main contracts - one for the basic helicopter and one for the electronics, the mission suite - could leave the Defence Department holding the bag as the de facto prime contractor trying to meld the two.

"We do share the view that ... there wouldn‘t be the appropriate resources within the department," for such a dual task, smith said.

Many say the department no longer has the expertise or the experience to be a prime contractor in what could be a touchy process.

Smith said the separation of the contracts likely will mean the helicopter would have to be certified airworthy again, after the systems are installed.

Defence Minister Art Eggleton, who said he hadn‘t spoken with Smith, told reporters the first stage of the process is designed to get feedback from industry.

"We‘re listening to everyone," he said.

He said the process isn‘t set in stone and the rules might still change.

The government wants to spend $2.7 billion on the project, which involves the purchase of 28 helicopters, plus their electronics, plus maintenance contracts.

The choppers will replace the 40-year-old Sea King helicopters which fly from the navy‘s warships. The first new machine was to be ready to go by December 2005, although most observers feel that‘s an impossible deadline to meet.