Budget cuts hit RCAF flying hours
Cutbacks affect aircraft upkeep, documents show
Lee Berthiaume
Ottawa Citizen
12 Feb 2015
Federal budget cuts have been quietly clipping the wings of the Canadian military, with the air force's fighter jets, search-and-rescue helicopters and other aircraft spending more time on the ground in an attempt to save money.
The belt-tightening, combined with increasing fuel, utility and training costs, has also made it more difficult for the Royal Canadian Air Force to pay for such essentials as removing snow and ice from runways, and has forced it to cut back on preventive aircraft maintenance.
The revelations are contained in internal business plans prepared by 1 Canadian Air Division, which manages the RCAF's numerous aircraft fleets. The documents predate the current conflict in Iraq, raising further questions as to how that action is affecting the air force's already stressed budget.
RCAF spokesman Maj. James Simiana says the air force "is always exploring ways and means aimed at ensuring we can effectively and responsibly maintain and deliver operational effect in support of Canadians and Canada's national interests, both at home and abroad.
"The RCAF will continue to maintain its current level of operational and readiness excellence by examining and implementing new ways of achieving the military effects required, becoming more innovative, more agile, and more adaptable."
But 1 Canadian Air Division's 2014-15 business plan says the "extremely limited manning and financial flexibility that exists in the Air Force restricts the effectiveness with which we can fulfill our mandate." It adds that underfunding "will eventually impact the RCAF's ability to conduct operations."
NDP defence critic Jack Harris says the "damning warning" makes it even more important for the Conservative government to reveal how much the Iraq war is expected to cost, and whether the Department of National Defence will have to pay for it from its shrinking budget.
Canada has six CF-18 fighter jets, two Aurora surveillance aircraft and a Polaris refuelling plane participating in the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
All three types of aircraft have seen their planned flying hours cut since 2009, and increasing them beyond the planned rates, for Iraq or any other reason, would require additional government money or diverting resources from other areas.
"They're shaving pretty close to the bone there when it comes to cutting back on these hours," Harris said.
"The question becomes: Where is the money coming from for Iraq? If they hide it by cutting back on flying hours outside of that, then we're going to have a significant impact on other operations for the air force."
Liberal defence critic Joyce Murray accused the Conservative government of having the wrong priorities by promising to introduce income-splitting while "compromising the ability of the air force to protect Canadians.
"Clearly the government's priority is to be able to deliver a tax cut to families that need it the least," she said.
"They've used the National Defence budget over the last few years as a giant piggy bank to accomplish that objective, which is to deliver tax cuts for the 2015 election."
The Conservative government has slashed billions of dollars from DND's budget and let billions more go unspent in recent years to help eliminate the federal deficit and pay for the government's promises before this year's election.
But the cuts have had visible impacts.
The army has parked a large number of trucks and other support vehicles to reduce maintenance costs; the navy has docked coastal patrol ships; training exercises have been scaled back; and orders for spare parts postponed or cancelled.
Less obvious has been a gradual reduction in the amount of flying hours for the Royal Canadian Air Force's numerous aircraft fleets.
1 Canadian Air Division's business plans show total planned flying hours were cut 11 per cent from 2009 to 2014.
That includes 13-per-cent fewer flying hours for the RCAF's CF-18 fighter-jet fleet, 30-per-cent less for its Aurora surveillance planes, a 26-per-cent cut for its Globemaster transport aircraft, and a 44-percent reduction for the Polaris refuelling planes.
Planned flying hours also dropped by five per cent for the RCAF's ancient Buffalo searchand-rescue airplanes and Tutor jets used by the Snowbirds aerial acrobatic team, and nearly four per cent for the air force's aged Sea King helicopters.
The cuts were partially offset with the addition of new Chinook transport helicopters, Cyclone search-and-rescue helicopters and King Air training planes. But the only previously existing aircraft with more airtime in 2014 were the Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters and executive Challenger planes.
The 2014-15 business plan also states that "aircrew/ground crew training are increasing in cost as funding levels continue to drastically decline."
In addition, plans to cut costs with simulators and other measures, "although promising, are not immediately possible as they are either not yet available or lack the required fidelity."
Annual increases to the price of chemicals for removing snow and ice from runways "continue to erode budgets," the report says, while diesel shortages had resulted in cuts to heavy equipment driver training "critical" to keeping runways clear and supporting overseas missions.
"Manning shortfalls and inadequately funded vehicles maintenance budgets have resulted in a reduction of preventive maintenance at the Wings, resulting in increased corrective maintenance at an overall higher cost," the business plan adds.
