NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
OTTAWA, February 23, 2017 – By filing an application for judicial review on January 6th 2017 before the Federal Court, Team Spartan formally challenged the decision of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to award the FWSAR Contract to Airbus.
Team Spartan’s main allegation is that the selected airplane is unfit to safely perform certain key Search and Rescue tasks and missions required by Canada and should have been, therefore, disqualified.
Based on the above, Team Spartan has applied to the Federal Court for an order requesting that Canada cancel the contract with Airbus and award same to Leonardo.
Team Spartan remains committed to ensuring that Canada receives the best cost-effective solution for the FWSAR mission.
Media Inquiries:
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Michael Plastino
(613) 786-9946
michael.plastino@hkstrategies.ca
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Background Info
C-27J Spartan: aircraft reliability is essential for Canada’s FWSAR
The C-27J is the only aircraft in its class with the speed and range to respond to SAR incidents across Canada’s entire area of responsibility while operating from Canada’s existing base structure.
Other capabilities that make the C-27J the best choice for FWSAR include:
· APU, Auxiliary Power Unit that guarantees the aircraft autonomous operations, and safety during the long range missions
· Highly maneuverable, able to fly in the tight confines of western Canada mountain ranges.
· Exceptional short take-off and landing capability, including on unprepared airfields, which is highly important given the rugged environments frequently found across Canada’s search and rescue area.
· A higher and wider cabin (8’ high by nearly 11’ wide) provides more space for SAR Techs to operate and allows for the cabin area to be set-up in the ideal configuration for safe and efficient SAR operations.
· Qualified for operation in extreme temperature conditions, from -53°C to +50°C.
Peruvian C-27J supports Chile firefighting effort
The Peruvian Government recently brought aid to the neighbouring Andean country of Chile, hit by devastating fires that ravaged the south-central mountains. Two C-27J Spartans, belonging to the Grupo Aéreo N°8 of the Callao Air Base of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), were used to transport firefighting material and specialists to Chile, including a 55 man firefighting brigade of the Civil Defence Institute (INDECI) that began operations in the Maule Region. One of the two C-27Js made a long non-stop flight, landing in Santiago de Chile’s “Arturo Merino Benitez” International Airport after little more than five hours.
Versatile, multi-role C-27J aircraft is perfectly suited for humanitarian assistance and emergency support, such as in the case of the devastating fires that hit Chile. It can easily transport materials, equipment and men without the need for land-based support, thanks to the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), and perform landings and take-offs on unprepared landing strips. C-27J Spartan is also ideal – without any modification to the aircraft – for firefighting missions, thanks to its capability to perform safe airdrops of special water/ retardant containers.
Australia’s C-27J reaches Initial Operations Capability
Australia’s C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter has achieved initial operating capability (IOC), Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne announced. “The Spartan can access airfields that are unable to support larger transport aircraft, thus increasing the reach for Defence when supporting communities across Australia and throughout the Asia Pacific region,” Minister Payne said in a statement. To date, RAAF has received four of the 10 C-27J Spartans Australia has on order. The aircraft are operated by 35 Squadron out of RAAF Base Richmond while facilities at their permanent home at RAAF Base Amberley are being built.
Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies described the C-27J Spartan as the missing piece in Australia’s air mobility matrix. “The arrival of the Spartan will greatly increase the mobility and flexibility for local commanders, allowing intra-theatre airlift that will bridge C-130J Hercules and CH-47 Chinook options,” AIRMSHL Davies said. Final operational capability (FOC) was expected to occur in December 2017.
The C-27J Spartan proven in Search And Rescue missions
The C-27J Spartan is worldwide considered as the benchmark in the new-generation, medium multi-mission airlifter category. The C-27J is a twin-engine, turboprop, tactical transport aircraft with state-of-the-art technology in avionics, propulsion and systems. It provides high performance, extreme operating flexibility and cost efficiency and it is the only aircraft in its class capable of interoperability with heavier airlifters.
The C-27J can perform a variety of missions including transport of troops, goods and medicines, logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC, airdrop operations, paratroopers’ launches, ISR/ISTAR, Tactical Support, Search And Rescue (SAR), firefighting, humanitarian assistance, oil spill relief, and operations in support of homeland security.
The C-27J is equipped with modern avionics and efficient propulsion system (Rolls Royce AE2100-D2A, assuring a 4,650 SHP). The architecture of its avionics system is completely redundant, thus increasing the level of mission security and reliability and permitting operation in any environment condition and in any operational scenario.
The C-27J, thanks to a loading system, perfectly compatible with that of the C-130, can carry pallets weighing up to 4,550 kg and 2.20 metre tall, or platforms with a length of 12 ft, weighing up 6,000 kg.
The C-27J is capable of taking off from and landing on unprepared strips less-than-500 m. long, with maximum take-off weight up to 31,800 kg; it may carry up to 60 equipped soldiers or up to 46 paratroopers and, in the air ambulance (MEDEVAC) version, 36 stretchers or 24 stretchers and two Patient Transport Support System (P.T.S.S), with stretchers and stowage provisions for intensive care medical equipment and six medical assistants.
The large cross section (2.60 metre high, 3.33 metre wide) and high floor strength (4,900 kg/m load capability) allow heavy and large military or SAR equipment and mission systems to be loaded.
The C-27J has been designed, developed and tested as a true military aircraft. It has obtained Military Qualification Certificate. At the same time the C-27J is airworthy to civil standards, as witnessed by its certification from the Civil Aviation Authority, EASA in 2001 for the basic configuration and subsequently EASA / FAA in 2010 for the C-27J JCA configuration.
The C-27J has been ordered by the air forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco, the US, Mexico, Australia, Chad, Peru, Slovak Republic and an undisclosed African customer. In total, 82 airplanes have been ordered. In US the aircraft is in service with the Army and with the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard’s aircraft based in Sacramento, California, started last summer to fly SAR missions to support rescue operations on sea.
Contacts:
FWSAR@finmeccanica.com
www.c-27j.ca
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