The federal government announced today that they have signed a deal to replace Canada’s aging fleet of search and rescue fixed wing aircraft. Currently we use 50 year old Buffalo and Older model Hercules aircraft to perform search and rescue.
The new aircraft will be the Airbus C-295. Canada has agreed to buy 16 with the first being delivered in 2019. The C-295 is in operation in 15 other countries as mostly transport aircraft or maritime patrol.
“This is a significant investment to replace our fleets of Buffalo and Hercules aircraft, strengthen Canada’s capability to conduct search-and-rescue operations and keep Canadians safe,” said Public Procurement Minister Judy Foote.
The aircraft will be based in Trenton Ontario, Comox British Columbia, Greenwood Nova Scotia and at CFB Winnipeg.
The cost of the new plane program is $2.3 billion but with the 20 year maintenance agreement that price tag jumps to $ 4.7 billion.
As part of the deal Winnipeg will become the maintenance hub for the aircraft. The subcontract to perform the maintenance was awarded to Winnipeg’s Exchange Income Corporation.
-News4 Staff-
