Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 03/05) - Europe's largest aerospace firm winged into Yellowknife this week in what the company hopes will be Canada's newest search and rescue aircraft.

The C-295 SAR was introduced by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) CASA Spain officials during a demo flight Wednesday.

The demonstration was part of a Canadian tour of the aircraft, which was on loan from the Spanish Air Force.

Martin Sefzig, director of Canadian programs for EADS CASA, said the aircraft is a viable contender for the federal government's ongoing fixed wing SAR replacement program.

Sold worldwide, the C-295 is being touted as a leader in search and rescue capabilities, Sefzig said. "The Canadian air forces will be the prime customer to purchase and allocate the aircraft," Sefzig said.

Captain Jim Hutcheson, air force public affairs officer in Ottawa, said the C-295 aircraft could "potentially be a contender for the program."

"Right now, we're in the final stages of completing the statement of operational requirement," he said.

Range, speed of the aircraft and capacity will all be considered factors in the decision, he said.

The estimated budget for replacing the aircraft, including maintenance, will be $1.3 billion.

Hutcheson could not comment on the feasibility of Yellowknife as a potential location for such an aircraft.

Contract awarded

A contract for the winning bid for the aircraft will be made in late 2006 or early 2007.

Certified for cold weather flights, Sefzig said this and other enhanced features of the C-295 make it ideal for search and rescue missions in the Arctic.

Having such an aircraft based in Yellowknife will enhance and expedite search and rescue missions, he said.

"We believe that to improve service, aircraft should be close to where the incidents are," he said.

"Aircraft should be based where the need is, and it certainly should be here."

The aircraft will also have a secondary role of light transport between communities or for surveillance, he said.

With an endurance of 12 hours, he said the aircraft is able to cover the entire range of Canada.

Francisco (Paco) Calzada, head of marketing for North America for EADS, said 21st century technology in the form of infrared radar sensors, allows the capability of detection from the air for 40 nautical miles.

"With the radar, you can detect an inflatable boat from 20 to 40 nautical miles.

"It also increases the capability to detect something. The aircraft was also utilized for humanitarian missions like the tsunami disaster in Indonesia."

The C-295 also can be utilized to transport up to 24 stretchers, 71 passengers or a military vehicle through the back ramp.

Sefzig said the exact cost of such an aircraft depends upon the platform of the aircraft through equipment, its maintenance and in-service support.

"Exact price depends upon the configuration," he said.

Once the customer, such as the Canadian federal government, signs the contract, Sefzig said the aircraft could be delivered within six to nine months.