FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2001
2001 - 3768.PDF
ageing CH-124 Sea King is entering the final stages of its service following the launch of a replacement competition in August 2000. In addition, its SAR fleet is being overhauled with the January 1998 selection of the EH101/Cormorant. Deliveries started in October 2001 and are due to finish 2003. The tri-ser- vice CF aims to replace its Sea King ASW helicopters with 28 machines over eight years from 2005. Contenders include the Cougar, EH101, NH90 and S-92. The airframe and mission system acquisitions have been separated, with a helicopter selection due in August 2002 and mission system in April 2003. The $436 million update of 80 CF-18s is multi-phased and includes new mission computers, secure radios, APG-73 radar, improved IFF, Link 16 datalink, EW improvements and a helmet-mounted sight. Boeing is prime contractor with the work performed by Bombardier, which has carried out heavy maintenance on the CF-18 since it entered service. Around 40 CF-18s are in storage. Avionics update programmes are under way on the Hercules transports and tankers. The first was re delivered to the CF in July 1998 from Spar Aviation Services, which fitted the aircraft with digital automatic flight control systems, improved cockpit instruments, including EFIS and new navigation equipment. Importantly, it also standardised four different CF Hercules cockpit configurations. A study is consider ing replacements for part of the Hercules fleet with the A400M, C-17 and C-130J being the most likely competitors. A decision is expected in 2001. Two CC-150s, meanwhile, are to be equipped as tankers. The CP-140s are the subject of 19 "mini-projects" worth a total of C$1 billion to overhaul the aircraft's systems and extend its service life. The upgrades are scheduled to be concluded in 2009. The 19 elements are grouped into three phases. The first covers flight instruments, navigation systems and communications, and is to be concluded by 2004. CP-140As are based on the same P-3 Orion airframe but do not have any of the CP-140's ASW equipment. They are used for crew training, as well as Arctic, environmental and fishery patrol where sophisticated, expensive systems are not required. SAR assets include fixed-wing as well as rotary-wing types because CF operations take it to the far north of the country where the speed of a fixed-wing type can be essential. EW training is to undergo a major overhaul with the CE-144s having been retired or re-allocated to transport, and the remaining CT-133s are due for retirement in 2002 when a civilian contractor is to start providing EW aggressor aircraft. Cost reduction plans include the scaling back to 75 of the number of operational CH-146s, while the Buffalo fleet is to be retired. CP-140 numbers will also drop to 16. NATO FLYING TRAINING IN CANADA In April 1997, the Canadian Government approved the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme, which is owned and operated by Bombardier as a means for NATO, and other air forces, to pool training and make up for an expected shortfall in the next decade. It is based on a four-phase system. The first phase is a national responsibility - in Canada's case also provided by Bombardier using T-67 Fireflys - for selection and screening. Phase II basic training will take place in Canada at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, using T-6 Harvards, followed by Phase III advanced training at the same base using BAE Hawks. Phase IV tactical training will also be on the Hawk, but based at Cold Lake for tactical flying and weapons training. Instructors are from participating air forces. Bombardier has bought the aircraft, which are commercially insured but registered and certificated through the Department of National Defence. As well as the CF, the Danish, Italian and Singaporean air forces and the UK's RAF send pilots to NFTC, which started its first course in 2000. Bombardier can offer overseas air forces screening on the T67 Fireflys it operates for CF as well as basic rotary-wing and mul tiple-engine training using the privately-run King Airs and JetRangers. Proposals for Bombardier to take over the Snowbirds aerobatic team have also been put on the table. Type CF-188A/B Hornet CH-149 Cormorant CC-/CE-144 Challenqer KCC-130H Hercules CC-138 Twin Otter CH-146 Griffon CT-133 Silver Star (T-33) CT-114 Tutor CT-156 Harvard II* Slinqsby T-67M Firefly* CH-139 JetRanger+ * contract flying services order + joint service CAPE VERDE No 80 15" 6 4 99 29 23 24 12 13 t NFTC, Role int/AD/strike SAR trans/VIP tank-trans trans/SAR trans/SAR EW train aero team tmc; trnci trng 19 Hawks on firm FORQA AEREA CABOVERDAINE AND GUARDA COSTEIRA DE CABO VERDE (AIR FORCE AND COAST GUARD) The small coast guard operates a Dornier 228-201 and a Bandeirante, while the air force operates three An-26 Curl transports. ESCADRILLE CENTRAFRICAINE (CENTRAL AFRICAN FLIGHT) This former French colony suffers from severe finan cial difficulties. The military air arm operates two air craft: a single Rallye Guerrier and a single AS350 Ecureuil for communications duties. ESCADRILLE NATIONALE TCHADIENNES (CHAD AIR FORCE) The combat capability of Chad's air force is restricted to two Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainers received via France in 1985 and the remaining two of three SF260Ws captured from Libya during the numerous border disputes between the two countries. The gov ernment also operates civil registered aircraft not declared by the air force, including a Gulfstream II, a 727-200 and a F27-600. Type No Role PC-7 Turbo Trainer 2 COIN SF260W Warrior 4 COIN C-130H/H-30 Hercules 1/1 trans An-26 Curl 1 trans Reims-Cessna FTB337 1 comms SA316 Alouette III 2 comms PC-6B Turbo Porter 1 comms FUERZA AEREA DE CHILE (AIR FORCE) Chile's long-running fighter competition continues at a snail's pace. Although a selection was planned for 1998, it was the end of 2000 before the F-16C/D Block 50-Plus was selected over the F/A-18E/F Gripen and Mirage 2000-5. Although the air force asked for bids based on 24 aircraft, funding limited the buy to 10 fighters. Subsequently, the deal has moved very slowly and no contract has been signed, with release of AMRAAM being a concern to Santiago. As part of the deal the country would also take two KC-135A tankers. The fighters will be equipped with the APG-68(V)9 radar, Israeli EW equipment and datalink, and conformal fuel tanks. Bidding for a second batch of fighters is expected to begin around 2006. Chile also has on-going requirements for a "tactics trainer" to replace its retired T-37s. Chile has signed a letter of intent for the T-6 Texan: whether this will be taken further remains to be seen. The single IAI Phalcon was delivered in 1995. It has phased array radars on either side of the fuselage and in a bulbous nose fairing. A requirement for further AEW platforms could be met with Embraer's Erieye-equipped regional jets. The Elkan/Mirage 5s replaced upgraded Hawker Hunters and were acquired from Belgium. They received SABCA's MIRSIP upgrade before delivery in 1995-6 - four aircraft have a reconnaissance capabili ty. These aircraft operate simultaneously with the broadly similar Enaer Panteras, which are locally upgraded Mirage 50s. These and its Israeli-modified F-5Es are equipped with lAI's Python 3 and Python 4 AAMs. The F-5 upgrade was in conjunction with Chile's Enaer and included multimode radar, head-up and head-down displays, navigation systems and EW equipment. Just under half the A-36s had upgraded cockpits fitted in 1997. A single S-70 Black Hawk, delivered in July 1998, was intended to be the beginning of a UH-1H replace ment programme. Chile has also ordered Bell 412s to replace UH-1HS, the first of 12 was delivered in 2000. More S-70s remain, however, on the shopping list. Type No Role F-16C/D 10' int/attack Pantera (Mirage 50) 8/6/1 int/recce Elkan (Mirage 5) 20/5+ FGA/recce F-5E/F Tiger IV 13/3 int/FGA/trng Phalcon ^^^^^I^^^AEW^ A-36Halcon(C-101CC) 21 COIN/trng T-36Halcon (C-101BB) 13 trng A-37B Dragonfly 24 COIN/trng Beech 99A 3/1/3 MR/trans/ELINT 707-300 1/1 tank-trans/trans KC-135^^^^^^^2*^tank^^^^^ C-130B/H Hercules 3/2 trans Y-7H-500 (An-24) ^^2^^^trans^^^^^ Gulfstream IV 1 trans 737-500^^^^^^^^^^ trans/VIP Super King Air/King Air 1/1 comms PA-28-236 Dakota 14 comms C212Aviocar HHI trans Chile's navy operates the EMB-111, which is based on the Bandeirante airliner, for maritime patrol 40 27 NOVEMBER - 3 DECEMBER 2001 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
