Are our Comorants lemons?

One really has to wonder:

Canada should either buy more Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters or cut back on inspections in the existing fleet to meet the life-saving role the aircraft was originally expected to perform, says a new report.

A study by Defence Research and Development Canada says the existing 14 CH-149 choppers are sidelined more than half of the time because of inspections and mechanical difficulties.

The current fleet would have to double in size to meet the federal government’s initial search-and-rescue coverage goals of having helicopters available at four bases across the country, says the report.

"It was found in this study that aircraft availability at the (main operating bases) actually varied from 37 per cent to 50 per cent and that at least 28 aircraft would be required to satisfy the availability requirements" as initially outlined by the government, said the report, completed in June.

When the Cormorants were introduced in 2002, replacing the nearly 40-year-old Labrador helicopters, it was expected each aircraft would be on the flight line 75 per cent of the time.

But there have been continuing problems, including persistent cracks in the tail rotor hubs and a critical shortage of spare parts, which has meant considerably less time in air.

Researchers ran a statistical simulation that concluded the air force could get by with the existing number of aircraft, but only if there were "a 25 per cent reduction in the durations of the major, minor and out-of-sequence inspections of the aircraft."

Last winter, the Defence Department categorically ruled out buying additional Cormorants [emphasis added--no shoot, there's no money]. A spokesman refused to say Wednesday whether the researchers’ findings changed any minds.

"It would be premature to answer as the air force is reviewing the findings and conclusions of the report," said Maj. Jim Hutcheson.

Long-range planning staff at the air force are examining the report, as well as engineers, who must assess the impact of an reduction in inspections.

"It’s the implications of the report’s conclusions that we need to take a closer look at," said Hutcheson.

Canada initially bought 15 Cormorants, a variant of the EH-101, from AgustaWestland but one was lost in a 2006 crash off Nova Scotia.

The availability problems forced the air force to withdraw the new helicopters from Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ont., and replace them in the search-and-rescue role with CH-146 Griffon utility helicopters, which are troop transports [not really--they are "utility" helicopters; Chinooks are real troop transports (amongst other things)].

At varying times over the last year, two other bases have had trouble keeping their Cormorants airborne.

Comox, B.C., was reduced to just one helicopter last December and Gander, N.L., went without any helicopters just a few weeks ago.

An internal Defence Department team made up of military officers also looked at the availability problem and concluded last February that the air force should boost its search-and-rescue fleet to 18 of the high-tech choppers.

Hutcheson said search-and-rescue operations have not been compromised because the air force can fall back on other helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

The Cormorants were declared fully operational in 2004, but have been plagued with a variety of technical issues.

Cracked windscreens and minor structural defects were among the initial reports, but the deficiencies became more serious with the discovery of cracks in the tail rotor assembly.

The aircraft-maker provided new hubs, but the cracking persisted — a defect that was blamed for crashes of EH-101 helicopters in service in other countries.

Corrosion was also detected near the fuel tanks last year.

Why does Canada seem to have particular problems with the helicopters we buy?

Update: Our Comorants may actually be "orphans"; see the "Comments" at this Milnet.ca topic thread.