And so it begins........

[Guest Derek L]

FWSAR

Though the subject of FWSAR has been brought up before in various other threads, I thought it appt to start one specifically on the fixed wing SAR replacement program……………And put it here, and not Federal Politics, since I think this isn’t that politically contentious of programs (All parties support SAR)

That’s not to say there couldn’t be a debate on if DND should be in the SAR business, and such duties pasted to either the Coast Guard and/or privatized (Which I support) and ultimately what region will be granted pork with the final selection……….

Here are the most likely contenders:

HC-130J Coast Guard

C-27J Spartan

C-295M

DHC-5NG Buffalo made by Viking Air

Boeing V-22

In my opinion, the V-22 would be the best choice of the lot for it’s obvious unconventional attributes, realistically though it’s too expensive for the limited FWSAR budget………The C-295 is too small……..The Buffalo redux, though an interesting proposal, it would be made in Victoria and would likely be the cheapest option, lacks a pressurised cabin and the range associated with the current Hercules portion of our current SAR fleet……….The C-27J shares the same engines (Two instead of four) as our current C-130J fleet and much the same avionics, but is made in Italy (Though the USAF will be cutting their fairly new fleet of aircraft, perhaps used?) and is, in terms of size (and operating costs) is right in the middle between our current SAR Buffaloes and Hercules aircraft, thusly being a fair compromise……..The Lockheed HC-130J is a variant of the C-130J (What we already have) and is already in service with the US Coast Guard, but as a like for like replacement for FWSAR, would increase the operational costs of the fleet, but we’d also save on training and maintenance costs since we already operate it and would be reducing the RCAF’s number of aircraft types down by two……….

What I’d like to see is a split buy, with 2/3rds of the fleet replaced with the Lockheed HC-130 and the remainder with the revamped Buffalo, coupled with an additional buy of (4) Buffalos to replace our current Twin Otters used in the Arctic…………What I think will happen, the HC-130 or used USAF C-27J.

Edited September 14, 2012 by Derek L

[Signals.Cpl]

FWSAR

Though the subject of FWSAR has been brought up before in various other threads, I thought it appt to start one specifically on the fixed wing SAR replacement program……………And put it here, and not Federal Politics, since I think this isn’t that politically contentious of programs (All parties support SAR)

That’s not to say there couldn’t be a debate on if DND should be in the SAR business, and such duties pasted to either the Coast Guard and/or privatized (Which I support) and ultimately what region will be granted pork with the final selection……….

Here are the most likely contenders:

HC-130J Coast Guard

C-27J Spartan

C-295M

DHC-5NG Buffalo made by Viking Air

Boeing V-22

In my opinion, the V-22 would be the best choice of the lot for it’s obvious unconventional attributes, realistically though it’s too expensive for the limited FWSAR budget………The C-295 is too small……..The Buffalo redux, though an interesting proposal, it would be made in Victoria and would likely be the cheapest option, lacks a pressurised cabin and the range associated with the current Hercules portion of our current SAR fleet……….The C-27J shares the same engines (Two instead of four) as our current C-130J fleet and much the same avionics, but is made in Italy (Though the USAF will be cutting their fairly new fleet of aircraft, perhaps used?) and is, in terms of size (and operating costs) is right in the middle between our current SAR Buffaloes and Hercules aircraft, thusly being a fair compromise……..The Lockheed HC-130J is a variant of the C-130J (What we already have) and is already in service with the US Coast Guard, but as a like for like replacement for FWSAR, would increase the operational costs of the fleet, but we’d also save on training and maintenance costs since we already operate it and would be reducing the RCAF’s number of aircraft types down by two……….

What I’d like to see is a split buy, with 2/3rds of the fleet replaced with the Lockheed HC-130 and the remainder with the revamped Buffalo, coupled with an additional buy of (4) Buffalos to replace our current Twin Otters used in the Arctic…………What I think will happen, the HC-130 or used USAF C-27J.

Why do you oppose the way the current SAR system works?

[Guest Derek L]

Why do you oppose the way the current SAR system works?

Cost grounds.....The Coast Guard already has the sea based, maritime element as part of their mandate…….give them the airborne component in maritime environments…………Then privatize inland and Arctic SAR, with all DND assets backstopping the various agencies (As current), both public and private…….It works for the United States, Australians, New Zealanders and a host of other first world nations…………..