OTTAWA –
The federal authorities has signed a $3.6-billion contract with European aviation firm Airbus to exchange its getting older Polaris transport planes, one in all which is utilized by high-ranking authorities officers together with the prime minister and Governor Basic.
Along with the VIP service, the Royal Canadian Air Power makes use of the Polaris planes for air-to-air refuelling and personnel transport.
The fleet of 5 planes has been flown by the RCAF 437 transport squadron since 1992, and its lifespan is ready to finish in 2027. Authorities officers say extending that additional can be extraordinarily tough because of the age of the expertise.
The brand new fleet of planes, which will probably be named the CC-330 Husky, contains 4 new and 5 used plane which can be being outfitted to characteristic the identical capabilities.
The federal government purchased the used planes from an organization in Kuwait, and two of them are set to start flying out of Ottawa Worldwide Airport this fall.
A type of will probably be painted in a approach that’s just like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s present airplane, and it’s anticipated to be delivered this summer time. Officers wouldn’t say whether or not will probably be prepared to be used in September, when Trudeau is anticipated to attend the G20 summit in India.
The getting older Polaris fleet has brought about points for Trudeau all through his time in workplace.
An issue in October 2016 required the plane to return to Ottawa half-hour after taking off with Trudeau, who was en path to Belgium to signal the Canada-Europe free-trade deal.
In October 2019, the VIP airplane rolled right into a wall whereas being towed right into a hangar at 8 Wing Trenton, sustaining “vital structural harm to the nostril and proper engine cowling,” in response to the Air Power.
The airplane was out of service for a number of months that yr. A backup plane was used to take Trudeau to the NATO summit in December 2019, nevertheless it was grounded in London when the Air Power found an issue with one of many engines.
Canadian crews have been coaching to fly the brand new plane in the UK since January. On common, it takes about three months of coaching for a Polaris pilot to be able to fly the brand new Airbus, Nationwide Defence officers mentioned in a background briefing for reporters on Tuesday.
Two of the used planes have been bought for US$102 million final June and the remaining three have been purchased this month at a price of US$150 million.
The Airbus contract contains superior coaching gadgets and a full flight simulator, which can eradicate the necessity to ship crews to Germany to coach twice a yr, officers mentioned.
The Husky planes will be capable of carry out air-to-air refuelling for Canada’s NATO allies, together with F-35 fighter jets and the U.S. Air Power’s fighter jets. Canada has dedicated to purchasing 88 F-35 planes, that are set to be delivered beginning in 2026.
Defence Division officers mentioned the fleet will probably be housed at three bases: one within the east, one within the west and one within the north, however they haven’t but decided precisely the place these will probably be.
New infrastructure is a part of the contract as nicely, as a result of the planes are about 50 per cent heavier and 50 per cent wider than these within the present fleet. The federal government is industrial websites and present Nationwide Defence properties as a part of that work.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 25, 2023.
