Well, over 40 years old and they require 30 hours of maintenance for every 1 hour of flight time.
A couple years ago when a ship sank off the eastern coast, over a dozen lives were lost because of "deficient" night imaging systems on the Sea King rescue helicopters that would spot survivors and lose sight of them right after. This is according to the DND's own report, not my own assumption.
The Sea Kings are also forbidden from engaging night operations with US Forces because their equipment is so outdated to be unsafe for everyone involved.
And of course a couple weeks ago, a Sea King crashed onto the deck of a Canadian Navy ship after takeoff because of mechanical failure.
For 20 years now, critics have demanded the replacement of the helicopter fleet. Conservative PM Brian Mulroney signed a $5B contract in 1992 to replace the fleet, and as soon as Chretien was elected he proudly announced that he'd cancel the deal, even though it cost Canadians hundreds of millions of dollars to cancel only to STILL leave us with an outdated fleet (I'm not entirely sure on that figure, feel free to correct me if it's too high or low).
The DND is now covering it up: Downgraded the report previously mentioned (which recommended replacing the fleet) to "draft" status and claimed it would require further study, 2 days after CBC questioned them about it, after pressure from Ottawa.
When will Ottawa stop putting lives at risk with the aging Sea Kings?
What should be done...who can smack the Liberals into utilizing common sense.
A couple years ago when a ship sank off the eastern coast, over a dozen lives were lost because of "deficient" night imaging systems on the Sea King rescue helicopters that would spot survivors and lose sight of them right after. This is according to the DND's own report, not my own assumption.
The Sea Kings are also forbidden from engaging night operations with US Forces because their equipment is so outdated to be unsafe for everyone involved.
And of course a couple weeks ago, a Sea King crashed onto the deck of a Canadian Navy ship after takeoff because of mechanical failure.
For 20 years now, critics have demanded the replacement of the helicopter fleet. Conservative PM Brian Mulroney signed a $5B contract in 1992 to replace the fleet, and as soon as Chretien was elected he proudly announced that he'd cancel the deal, even though it cost Canadians hundreds of millions of dollars to cancel only to STILL leave us with an outdated fleet (I'm not entirely sure on that figure, feel free to correct me if it's too high or low).
The DND is now covering it up: Downgraded the report previously mentioned (which recommended replacing the fleet) to "draft" status and claimed it would require further study, 2 days after CBC questioned them about it, after pressure from Ottawa.
When will Ottawa stop putting lives at risk with the aging Sea Kings?

What should be done...who can smack the Liberals into utilizing common sense.
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