STEWART PENNEY / HALIFAX
Nova Scotia-based group intends to build on Cormorant success with second support deal
IMP Group is seeking to use its experience in providing in-service support for the Canadian Forces' AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters to bid for the support package for Canada's Maritime Helicopter Programme (MHP) and develop its work on Canadian Lockheed Martin CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.
Halifax, Nova Scotia-based IMP has a contract to support the 15 EH101-based Cormorants at four bases across Canada. The machine is just entering service and IMP will be responsible for providing enough helicopters to meet a contracted number of annual flying hours at each base. "IMP will provide the full range of support: all but the flying has been contracted to us," says Carl Kumpic, IMP Aerospace vice-president international marketing.
A Cormorant support centre has been created at Halifax and the company has partnered Honeywell and Caterpillar Logistics on the programme.
The MHP will involve 28 maritime helicopters replacing Canada's Sikorsky CH-124/A Sea Kings, for which IMP provides heavy maintenance. Competing helicopters are a version of the Cormorant, the NH Industries NH90 and Sikorsky H-92. The mission system will be subject to a separate competition.
Kumpic says a support contractor will be chosen in December, when helicopter choice is due.
MHP support work is expected to include first, second and third line maintenance, supply chain management, engineering support, and repair and overhaul management. Kumpic says IMP has started talks about the primary air vehicle system support contract for the CP-140, which is based on the Lockheed P-3 airframe, and which will probably last for 10 years.
The company already handles heavy maintenance on the type and major modifications. Northrop Grumman's Litton System Canada unit will receive a similar contract to support the aircraft's mission system.
Kumpic says the CP-140 work includes supply chain management, engineering support, repairables management and aircraft fleet management. First and second line maintenance is not part of the CP-140 package.
Source: Flight International
