6/3/2009
Only half of the surveillance aircraft and rescue helicopters designated to guard Canada's coastline are able to report for duty on any given day.
And that is troubling defence critics, who wonder how the country would cope with an unforeseen disaster.
Figures laid before the Senate security and defence committee show the air force is only able to muster nine out of its 20 CP-140 aging maritime patrol aircraft for surveillance of the country's three coast lines. Exactly half _ seven-out-of-14 _ of the relatively new CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters can be called upon for duty.
The figures for the antique CH-146 Sea Kings are even more frightful. A mere 10-out-of-28 the aircraft can be spooled up for operations aboard Canadian warships.
A defence analyst said it's clear the age of the air force fleet is catching up with it as elderly aircraft spend more time in the shop and less time on the flight line. Rob Huebert, of the University of Calgary, also says it's a condemnation of the convoluted, dysfunctional political and procurement systems that have sidetracked _ or hopelessly delayed replacement planes and helicopters.
Huebert says the air force has become a ``thin blue line'' despite the billions of dollars spent recently on new heavy-lift transports and battlefield helicopters. (The Canadian Press, ccg)
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