Snowbirds' jets 'a safety risk'
Internal military report urges aging planes be replaced immediately
 
Chris Wattie 
National Post


Monday, October 20, 2003

CREDIT: Jean Levac, The Ottawa Citizen
 
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the world-famous aerial demonstration team, faces 'significant' technical, safety and financial risks if their 41-year-old CT-114 Tutor jets aren't replaced soon, says an internal review by the Department of National Defence.
 

TORONTO -- The government must move immediately to buy new jets for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds or the world-famous aerial demonstration team faces the difficult and dangerous prospect of flying geriatric aircraft for another 15 years, according to an internal review by the Department of National Defence.

The study concludes the 41-year-old CT-114 Tutor jets now flown by the Snowbirds should be replaced by the Hawk jet, made by British Aerospace (BAE), and recommends the federal government make a decision by the end of the year.

"Replacing the Tutor is a question of 'when,' not 'if'," says the study, an executive summary of which was obtained by the National Post. "With each passing year, the technical, safety and financial risk associated with extending the Tutor into its fifth decade and beyond will escalate. These risks are significant."

The study warns replacing the Snowbirds' mounts will cost at least $330 million, but argues the money will be well spent.

"These aircraft serve as an important symbol in representing the Canadian Forces and Canada both nationally and internationally," it says, adding: "There is a firm and continuing DND and government commitment to support a CF Snowbird air demonstration capability."

The study argues the decision to replace the Tutors must be made quickly, because of the time needed to order, build and supply the new aircraft.

"To procure, build, deliver, train and convert the Snowbird air demonstration program to (the BAE) Hawk will take about five years after a go-ahead decision is made," the review says. "A decision before the end of 2003 will ensure delivery of Hawk aircraft in 2008, for the 2009 (airshow) season."

However, Col. Dave Burt, the air force's director of air requirements, said the air force does not feel the same sense of urgency to find a replacement for the aging Tutors.

"The need to replace the Tutor is not too clear in the short term," he said. "The Tutor gives (the Snowbirds) the ability to fly in very close formation ... and at airspeeds that allow them to fly in those formations for an entire show -- the kind of aerial ballet that have made the Snowbirds so popular."

Col. Burt said the document was only a draft report and is just one of dozens of studies that will be considered in deciding which new aircraft to buy and when they should be purchased.

"We've been working on this for a couple of years," he said. "This is just one of the elements we take into account."

The Tutors, once the main jet training aircraft for the military, are now flown only by the Snowbirds. Pilot trainees are now taught on the BAE Hawk, designated the CT-155 by the Canadian air force.

The Tutors will reach their maximum lifespan in 2006, but the military is working to extend that to 2010 with a $32-million upgrade. It could stretch the Tutor's service life even further, the study says, but notes: "this would extend the aircraft to almost 60 years of operation."

Col. Burt said the military realizes the importance of the team as "a Canadian icon," and acknowledges the Snowbirds will have to be equipped with new aircraft eventually.

The biggest hurdle is the cost, he said. The defence budget has been stretched to the breaking point by upgrades to the fleet of CF-18 fighter jets and CP-140 Aurora patrol planes, as well as deployments to the Persian Gulf by the navy, and 1,900 ground troops to Afghanistan.

Col. Burt said the air force must give priority to replacing or upgrading aircraft used for military operations over a public-relations vehicle such as the Snowbirds. "When it comes to a balance between combat and non-combat capabilities, I think that most people would agree we should come down on the combat side first," he said.

© Copyright  2003 The Ottawa Citizen

Q. How much does the Team cost to operate?
A. There is no meaningful answer to this question. The RAF already has the pilots and aircraft so they really cost nothing. The only real saving that could be made by not having the Red Arrows would be the cost of the fuel they use but that is insignificant when set against the advantages accruing from the Team's appearances.

I would think the best aircraft for an official display team would be a type already in regular service. I don't know which aircraft Canada uses for pilot training these days. The RAF Red Arrows (& I believe the US official display teams) use aircraft & pilots that are on the inventory & can (in theory anyway) quickly revert to their conventional service roles. Quote from the Red Arrows official site.