Mon, Jul 10, 2006
Tutor Trainers Are 43 Years Old
As Canada ramps up on military
spending, some officials are calling for the company's
Defense Department to throw a little money towards replacing the
aging CT-114 Tutor trainers flown by the Snowbirds precision flying
team.
The issue, like the Tutor, is not new. The London Free Press
reports the Snowbirds have been involved in no fewer than 12 major
accidents -- including five fatalities -- involving 19 aircraft
since 1972... when the two-seat trainers were already nine years
old.
However, a briefing note to Chief of Defense Staff Rick Hillier,
obtained by the Free Press, show the Canadian military is strongly
considering keeping the Tutors flying until 2020 at the earliest --
despite a lack of parts availability for the aging planes, as well
as an "increased risk of unexpected problems."
A program aimed at replacing the Tutors was launched in 2001 --
but first on the list of available options, according to an update
report from the Canadian Defense Department, is to maintain the
"status quo." Near the bottom of the list of options including
cutting the fleet back to make more parts available for flying
aircraft, as well as introducing a smaller Snowbirds team, using
four advanced CF-18 fighters.
Plans first unveiled in 2003 to bring a fleet of Hawk aircraft
onboard to replace the Tutors have also reportedly been placed on
hold.
As Aero-News reported, the
most recent accident involving a Snowbirds plane occurred last
August, when a jet flying to an airshow went down due to mechanical
problems. The pilot escaped injury.
More News
How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]
Aero Linx: International Association of Professional Gyroplane Training (IAPGT) We are an Association of people who fly, build or regulate Gyroplanes, who have a dream of a single >[...]
NORDO (No Radio) Aircraft that cannot or do not communicate by radio when radio communication is required are referred to as “NORDO.”>[...]
Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) The operation of a UAS beyond the visual capability of the flight crew members (i.e., remote pilot in command [RPIC], the person manipulating th>[...]
Aero Linx: Malibu M-Class Owners and Pilots Association (MMOPA) The Piper M-Class Owners & Pilots Association (PMOPA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the interest>[...]