| By Graham Warwick/Aerospace Daily & Defense Report |
 The availability of Canada’s CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters is improving after manufacturer AgustaWestland took action to improve spares provisioning, and inspection requirements were changed. Earlier this year, an official report revealed availability of the 14 helicopters was less than 50 percent, well below the 75 percent expected when Canada purchased the EH101-based Cormorants in 1998. The study said minimum operational requirements could only be met by buying more aircraft or reducing maintenance inspections. Canada purchased 15 Cormorants, but lost one, and the helicopters equip only three of the originally planned four operating bases. The Department of National Defence (DND) denies Canadian media reports it is considering buying or leasing up to five more Cormorants, but says it is still evaluating the effectiveness of AgustaWestland’s recovery plan. An operational availability improvement program instituted with Canada has made “genuine inroads” into overcoming the issues, says Jeremy Tracy, AgustaWestland’s head of region for Canada. The program involves more attention to spares provisioning and the return of repaired and overhauled items, he says. Suppliers are being held to the provisioning times offered, and inspection intervals have also been adjusted to reduce maintenance downtime. “As the aircraft matures we are able to reduce the maintenance burden,” Tracy says. Canada has now begun inspecting tail-rotor hubs for cracks every 200 flight hours, in common with other EH101 operators, instead of every 100 hours. Working with the DND and maintenance prime contractor IMP, AgustaWestland has been able to get a better understanding of spares provisioning requirements, he says. “We have provided as many as we can against the target threshold.” “AgustaWestland has recognized the need to improve the situation regarding aircraft spares, which has had a very significant impact on the operational availability of this aircraft [the EH101] worldwide,” DND says. “Recently, AgustaWestland implemented a plan to increase parts availability for the Cormorant...over the next year and into the future. Spare parts are already coming in at a higher rate.” Tracy says the program already has improved the availability of the Cormorants, citing recent statistics showing nine aircraft out of 14 available. This is an improvement over the 50 percent rate, but still short of the 75 percent target. Availability varies day to day, the DND says, adding that “while the trend appears to be improving, the availability rate for the Cormorant has recently averaged six to seven aircraft available out of the total of 14.” The DND intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the recovery plan over the next several months. The department is looking at several options to increase the availability of SAR helicopters, but says there are no plans to lease or buy additional Cormorants. AgustaWestland Tackles CH-149 IssuesPhoto: Canada National Defence Department sources: www.aviationweek.com |
