April 10, 2023 | Local, C4ISR
Ottawa firm develops cutting-edge radar technology to defend North America
D-TA Systems Inc. has already briefed U.S. military officials twice about its over-the-horizon radar technology.
December 26, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
Deal allows Canada to continue operating aging RCAF VIP aircraft in U.S. airspace
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN
Two RCAF Challenger aircraft are too old to be upgraded with the modern systems required to meet new regulations for civilian airspace.
Canada has cut a deal with the United States to allow two of the military's aging Challenger jets to continue to operate in American airspace despite not having the required new air traffic control equipment on board.
The two Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger aircraft, used for VIP transportation and other military duties, are too old to be upgraded with the modern systems required to meet new flight regulations for civilian airspace.
The new rules come into effect for the U.S., Mexico, Columbia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 1. For most of Europe, those rules will apply starting June 7. In Canada, the rules are being phased in between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jan. 1, 2023.
The aviation rules call for increased reliance on data links, new air traffic control surveillance technologies and satellite-based navigation. The regulatory changes are being implemented worldwide and are commonly referred to as ADS-B.
Canada had been in ongoing negotiations with the U.S. government and its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the continued use of the Challengers in U.S. airspace.
“The RCAF has confirmed with the United States Department of Defense and the FAA that we will continue to operate our aircraft in U.S. airspace under a Memorandum of Understanding,” Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said. “This interim measure will allow the RCAF to continue operating its Challenger aircraft in U.S. airspace with established processes and is a reflection of our strong relationship with our American partners.”
The memorandum covers a five-year period.
“Since two of our Challenger aircraft are not ADS-B compliant, they may still be subject to suboptimal flight routings in parts of the U.S., depending on location, density of air traffic and other factors,” Le Bouthillier added.
That could mean, for instance, that the Canadian aircraft might need to be rerouted or take a different flight path if the level of air traffic in an area is high.
The RCAF operates four Challenger jets, with the two more modern aircraft already outfitted with the new equipment.
The Liberal government has been reluctant to buy new aircraft since it is expected Conservative MPs will try to score political points about planes being purchased for VIPs such as the prime minister before new fighter jets are bought for the RCAF.
When the Liberals were in opposition, they criticized the Conservative government's use of VIP aircraft.
Some within the RCAF support either replacing the two older Challenger jets or purchasing a new fleet of four aircraft, noting the planes are also used for military missions such as medical transportation of injured personnel.
The older Challenger planes are not the only aircraft in the VIP fleet that have faced problems.
The RCAF's specialized VIP aircraft used by the prime minister won't be flying until August 2020 because of an accident this fall. On Oct. 19, while being towed into a hangar at 8 Wing Trenton by contracted maintenance personnel, the Polaris aircraft was significantly damaged when it rolled into the back wall of a hangar.
Engineering teams from Airbus, the original manufacturer of the aircraft, and General Electric, which made the engines, assessed the damages and have provided an initial repair plan. “We do not have sufficient detail about potential costs, or the attribution of those costs, to provide any detail at this time,” RCAF spokesman Lt.-Col. Steve Neta stated in an earlier email.
Neta said the RCAF was confident it could meet travel needs of the prime minister and other VIPs. The RCAF has other aircraft that can be used for VIP transport, including other Polaris planes and as the CC-144 Challenger fleet, depending on the requirements, Neta added.
In early December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used another Polaris aircraft to fly to a NATO summit in the United Kingdom. After that plane arrived, though, problems were discovered in one engine and the aircraft was deemed temporarily “unserviceable” while it was repaired.
Another RCAF Polaris, which had taken Governor General Julie Payette to Europe for a tour, was instead used to transpot Trudeau and government officials back to Canada.
On the same subject
-
-
November 25, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
Defence Construction Canada issues Advance Procurement Notice for the Future Fighter Capability Project
Defence Construction Canada (DCC) has issued an Advance Procurement Notice (APN) for Solicitation No. APN-DC-2527 for construction programs for the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP). If contracts are awarded, the work will occur between 2020 and 2030. SECRET personnel, document safeguarding and facility security clearances will be required for all projects for contractors and consultants. Information management system clearance to the level of SECRET may be required, but will only be approved post-contract award. Potential bidders who do not currently meet these requirements can apply to the Industrial Security Program (ISP) for clearances. DCC is an approved sponsor under the ISP. Requests for security clearances must be received prior to January 7, 2020. Advance Procurement Notice, Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP), Canada (APN-DC-2527) Project Infrastructure is required at the Main Operating Bases in Cold Lake and Bagotville, with potential for work at various Deployed Operating Bases; Forward Operating Locations[1] and Combined Air Operations Centres in support of Future Fighter Capability (FFC). ISP Backgrounder Government of Canada information is subject to data and information protection requirements. The ISP is responsible for granting the necessary security clearances to contractors and their subcontractors for access to Government of Canada information designated as PROTECTED or higher. Key requirements include: individual and facility security clearances must be received in advanceof any access to government information; individual and facility security clearance must match the level of security assigned to the information being accessed; security clearances cannot be extended, transferred or assigned between organizations; site-specific Document Safeguarding Capability (DSC) security clearance is required for organizations that handle government information or assets at their facilities; IT systems that will receive, store and process government information must be approved in advance; foreign-based employees accessing government information at Canadian facilities must obtain a visitor screening approval in advance; foreign-based employees accessing government information from locations outside of Canada require security clearances, as does the facility within which they are working; subcontractors who will receive, process, store or access government information are subject to all of the same assessments and requirements as are the prime contractors (those holding the contract with the Canadian government) and must possess a valid security clearance for each contract; and prime contractors remains solely responsible (and liable) for the subcontractors compliance with the ISP. Compliance with the Industrial Security Program is a material requirement for any government contract having a security requirement. Failure to comply with the ISP can result in suspension or termination of security clearances. The termination of security clearances is considered to be a breach of contract, which entitles the government to terminate the contract for default. The requirements for SECRET clearances are extensive, necessitating advance planning to gather the significant and necessary information that is required. Whether you are currently registered in the ISP or seeking to do so, understanding the requirements of the ISP is critical to your ability to successfully bid for federal government work. To view all formatting for this article (eg, tables, footnotes), please access the original here. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8a031226-d61b-424e-ac7b-ccc8b7df104b
-
May 26, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
ISED & CADSI Release the State of Canada's Defence Industry Report