Canada Purchased The Aircraft For Spare Parts For Their Cormorants

When President Obama scrapped the VH-71 program, nine aircraft, including seven that are airworthy, and some 800,000 spare parts were purchased by the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) for about $164 million. At the time, the Canadian government said it would not be flying the aircraft, but they are similar to their fleet of Cormorant SAR helicopters, and could be used to help maintain those aircraft.

But now, in an apparent about face, the DND is reportedly looking at using the aircraft designed as Presidential transports for search and rescue missions.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that the RCAF is will have to remove some of the Cormorants from service for mid-life upgrades. Rather than parting out airworthy helicopters, the RCAF is looking at converting the would-be Presidential helos for SAR use. 

RCAF spokesman Capt. Alexandre Munoz told the paper that analysis is currently underway to determine "the most effective mechanism to improve fleet capacity if deemed necessary.”

So far, spare parts have been used from the inventory purchased by Canada to keep their Cormorants flying, but the seven airworthy aircraft have not been cannibalized.

AgustaWestland builds the Cormorant for Canada. Company spokesman Jeremy Tracy said that AgustaWestland has always been supportive of such a conversion program. “The conversion of the aircraft would give DND a significant boost to its search and rescue capability and a more robust fleet,” he said.

Tracy told the paper that all sensitive U.S. equipment has already been removed from the aircraft.

(VH-71 image from file)

FMI:  http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/