Will Canada Ever Replace Its Sea Kings?

[FireLight]

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.

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/

[Cam]

When the Liberal (read: Donkey Land) government of Jean Chretien cancelled the Augusta deal it cost them $500 mil....now Sikorsky want's up to $500 mil above and beyond the deal? Jesus.......... :massiverolleyes:

They should have left the deal in place. The costs now, are about the same as it would be been to get the helios in 1992.....

YAY POLITICS! I love that I pay $9000 a year in taxes to Government! Let's all vote socialist so we can all be equal! Don't want to work...no problem...I'll work for you!

In 1992, the Conservative government under Brian Mulroney signed a contract worth $4.8 billion to buy 50 EH-101 helicopters from the Anglo-Italian consortium European Helicopter Industries Ltd.

OH MI GOD NO! Are you serious! 50 helios for 4.8 billion...and we are not getting 28 for 5....awesome math Government!

But when the Liberals took power a year later, they axed the deal, which cost $500 million in cancellation fees.

Again! Now that's a billion over and above all together.....no worries...take 10,000 instead of 9....I don't care...I don't have bills....FireLight, you wanna get drunk of credit this weekend?

Link to source article...you should read it and then vent!