Cormorants Redistributed Due To Shortage Of Spares And Cracks In Tail Rotor Assembly

[treetopflyer]

Search and Rescue helicopters temporarily redistributed

 

WINNIPEG, Sept. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Two Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters

will be temporarily redistributed to eastern Canada due to the decreased

availability of the CH-149 Cormorant helicopter. As a result, the Cormorants

used in SAR operations at 8 Wing Trenton will be temporarily replaced by the

CH-146 Griffon helicopter by mid-October. This is expected to remain in effect

until at least the Spring 2006 timeframe.

 

This redistribution of aircraft will allow better management of the

Cormorant fleet while availability challenges are being addressed. It will

provide the remaining Cormorant squadrons with a sufficient number of

available aircraft to better maintain air crews' skills and proficiency

levels, while focusing the unique capabilities of the Cormorant on demanding

coastal SAR missions.

 

The CH-146 Griffon will become the primary helicopter to conduct SAR in

the Trenton area of responsibility. Three Griffon helicopters will provide SAR

response in the area spanning from Quebec City to Thunder Bay and from

Canada's North to the Great Lakes area. These Griffons, which frequently

conduct SAR missions, will be reallocated from other locations. Griffon

operations at their home units will not be adversely impacted.

 

The Commander 1 Canadian Air Division made this decision in order to

provide the most effective and efficient use of available Cormorant

helicopters across Canada. This was necessary because this fleet's

availability has been affected by ongoing problems associated with cracks in

its tail rotor assembly and a shortage of spares for various helicopter

components, including main gearboxes and main rotor heads. This lack of

available aircraft had the potential to impact the essential training of

Cormorant air crews.

 

"After assessing the situation, SAR helicopters will be redistributed

temporarily to allow us more flexibility to conduct essential Cormorant

training and to utilize the Cormorant for demanding coastal SAR missions,"

said Major-General Charles Bouchard, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division. "I am

very confident that our well trained and professional crews will continue to

provide a high level of SAR service across the country."

 

DND continues to work towards developing a solution with AgustaWestland,

the original equipment manufacturer, to determine the cause of cracking in the

tail rotor assembly; and IMP Group Ltd., the aircraft maintenance contractor,

to address spare parts availability.

[tDawe]

Did the British Navy ever have this same problem with their merlins? I'm assuming the two machines share the same rotor drive train?

 

Unrelated, but did the CF ever find a cause for the tail rotor blade cracking in the Griffon a few years back?