The Canadian Forces' ageing and dwindling fleet of Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters suffered another loss late last month, putting further political pressure on Ottawa to press ahead with the replacement Maritime Helicopter Programme (MHP) after more than 10 years of delay.
The latest accident occurred on 27 February aboard the destroyer HMCS Iroquois, when the ship's Sea King reportedly lost power from an engine on take-off and crashed on the deck from a height of 23ft (7m). The helicopter rolled on its side losing its main rotor, empennage and starboard landing gear sponson and slightly injuring one of the pilots and a sailor on deck.
As a result of the accident, the Iroquois was forced to delay its deployment to the Gulf and return to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the helicopter had to be craned off the deck. With 14 Sea Kings grounded for maintenance, two already in the Gulf and another about to be deployed to the region aboard the frigate HMCS Fredericton, they are unable to find a replacement.
Of the 41 CH-124 helicopters originally acquired between 1963 and 1969, only 28, including the crashed example, remain in service and they are not scheduled to be replaced before 2007 at the earliest. Canada is expected to issue prequalification letters to potential MHP bidders early next month, following submission of industry responses to an MHP requirements draft at the end of February and a letter of interest by 21 March.
The MHP request for proposals is expected to be released to industry no earlier than September, with a selection due to be made by April 2004. The programme has been mired in controversy since prime minister Jean Chrétien cancelled a purchase of 50 AgustaWestland EH101 helicopters in 1993.
The EH101 - already in service as the Cormorant search-and-rescue machine - remains a candidate along with the Sikorsky S-92 and NH Industries NH90.
Source: Flight International
