Should Be Interesting

[gwk]

The Harper government has awarded a contract worth up to $172 million for 15 light coast guard helicopters, despite facing a court challenge and accusations that the winner was given an unfair advantage.

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel announced the deal with Bell Helicopter today, heralding it as a way to stimulate economic growth and create Canadian jobs.

Under the terms of the contract, the first of the Bell model 429 helicopters will start arriving a year from now, with one new helicopter delivered each month thereafter.

Shea said the purchase will support more than 200 direct and indirect jobs.

Long before the contract was awarded, rival manufacturer Eurocopter, which produces aircraft in Fort Erie, Ont., launched a court challenge claiming Transport Canada gave Bell a leg-up by granting its model 429 a crucial weight exemption.

The accusation that specifications were rigged prompted both Eurocopter and AgustaWestland to pull out of the bidding.

 

[212wrench]

Whats so interesting? They're built in Quebec. Done deal.

[Twin Helix]

Seems to me that AW and Eurocopter would have had a better chance (in court and the bidding) had they submitted proposals. By not participating they somewhat waived the right to challenge the process. At least if they bid and lost they could challenge the process as Boeing did when the US fuel tanker contract was awarded to Airbus.

[chopterlol]

.

[Skidz]

Had a long chat with CG Chief pilot a couple years ago. Everybody in the coast guard (wants) wanted the EC145. The 429 didn't have the payload capacity for CG needs (pop-outs, raft, winch, etc). Funny TC has been dragging its heels for years on certification of the EC145 but they fast-tracked an increase in payload for the 429 (apparently specifically for the CG needs). Now that the contract is a done deal, watch just how fast the EC145 will get it's certification by TC...

 

Of course this is all hearsay, but I hear a lot of CG pilots and wrenches are a little bit discouraged by the whole ordeal...

[point of vu]

176 Million for 15 aircraft...... 11.466 Million per aircraft seems very steep for a 429. WTF?? The EC145 would have been a better all around platform for the coast guard. There is a reason the American's went with them (dubbed the Lakota). That is just my opinion though.

[Seniorwrench]

Product support from MBB and Eurocopter has been less than stellar. Good ridduns. Be glad to see some new iron in the barn.

[vortex]

Weren't there some 412's in this program as well?? I seem to recall that... also I think there were gross weight / usable load issues for landing on the CG ship decks that the other competitors lost marks for?

[picapart]

eleven point five million per aircraft . Glad to see my tax dollars hard at work

[Winnie]

Probably a service support agreement don't you think?? I don't think the aircraft's individual pricing is $11.5 mill or whatever.

 

Cheers

H.