It's like deja vu. At this rate, the Sea Kings will need to fly for another 40 years.
More delays can't be good. I know an ex-Sea King pilot. She said they were good helicopters, but the maintenance requirements to keep them in the air is getting pretty brutal.
More delays can't be good. I know an ex-Sea King pilot. She said they were good helicopters, but the maintenance requirements to keep them in the air is getting pretty brutal.
OTTAWA — The Harper government refused yesterday to fork over any extra cash to Sikorsky Inc., which has asked for hundreds of millions in additional funds to deliver promised helicopters to the Canadian Forces.
Issuing a warning that applies to all federal suppliers, Public Works Minister Michael Fortier said Sikorsky has to live up to its $5-billion contracts to provide 28 Cyclone helicopters to replace Canada's 40-year-old Sea Kings.
"When the government signs a deal with a supplier for a specific good at price X, that's the price the government should pay for that good," said Mr. Fortier, a lawyer and former banker.
"Where I come from, a price is not an approximation, it's not an estimate. ... In this case, the price was set at contract signing."
Sikorsky won a competition in 2004 to replace Canada's aging fleet of Sea King maritime helicopters. At signing, the firm agreed to deliver the first replacement aircraft next January.
But Sikorsky told the government earlier this year that it will not meet the original deadline, invoking a delay of up to 30 months.
Senior government officials told The Globe and Mail this week that Sikorsky is also asking for $250-million to $500-million in extra funding to give additional power to its helicopter.
More here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...tory/National/
Issuing a warning that applies to all federal suppliers, Public Works Minister Michael Fortier said Sikorsky has to live up to its $5-billion contracts to provide 28 Cyclone helicopters to replace Canada's 40-year-old Sea Kings.
"When the government signs a deal with a supplier for a specific good at price X, that's the price the government should pay for that good," said Mr. Fortier, a lawyer and former banker.
"Where I come from, a price is not an approximation, it's not an estimate. ... In this case, the price was set at contract signing."
Sikorsky won a competition in 2004 to replace Canada's aging fleet of Sea King maritime helicopters. At signing, the firm agreed to deliver the first replacement aircraft next January.
But Sikorsky told the government earlier this year that it will not meet the original deadline, invoking a delay of up to 30 months.
Senior government officials told The Globe and Mail this week that Sikorsky is also asking for $250-million to $500-million in extra funding to give additional power to its helicopter.
More here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...tory/National/
Comment