What's Canada Buying? January 8, 2013

• Fixed Wing SAR Plane Idea:  Why Not Include the Osprey in the Competition?  “A pair of leading U.S. aircraft-makers is urging Ottawa to think outside the box as the government prepares to revive a long-stalled program to replace the country’s search-and-rescue planes.  Boeing and Bell Helicopter, partners in the V-22 Osprey, plan to enter into the competition the tilt-rotor aircraft that can fly like a plane, but also hover like a helicopter.  In an unusually candid statement, company officials expressed concern that the revolutionary aircraft’s suitability for search-and-rescue might not be appreciated under the government’s approach to the program.  Robert Dompka, a senior executive at Bell Helicopter, says the firm would like to see “extra criteria” added to the planned $3.1-billion procurement.  “We believe the full value of the V-22 would not be ascertained with the way the requirement is currently structured,” he said in an interview.  He says the plan is weighted toward replacing legacy aircraft, the 50-year-old C-115 Buffalos and nearly four decade-old C-130 Hercules, rather than looking to the future.  Dompka says Bell would like to see defence planners take a “broader perspective” and consider alternative ways of conducting missions, such as using an aircraft that can search, arrive at a scene, hover and conduct a rescue.  Right now, the Canadian air force uses a fixed-wing plane to search and then has to call in a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter to carry out the rescue.  Kathy Anthony, a senior executive at Boeing, says the V-22 brings a whole new look at search-and-rescue and would be invaluable in saving lives.  “It reduces the time for survivors to reach safety and their (hospital) treatment,” she said.  The program, which ambled along in fits and starts for a decade, is still a long way from delivering aircraft because the government has conducted two rounds of consultations with industry.  Last year, the government told contractors a tender call had been delayed until spring of 2013.  Government officials were reluctant to comment on the latest suggestions ….” 
• F-35 Tug o’ War (1)  Tory MP corrects Liberal defence critic  “…. John McKay and his Liberal colleagues forced Canada into an unwanted election over the F-35 issue, and Canadians responded by handing our government the first majority mandate in over a decade. Instead of continuing to bring up issues from the past, Mr. John McKay should focus on what matters to Canadians most for the future: Jobs, Growth and Long Term prosperity for all Canadians.”
• F-35 Tug o’ War (2)  Retired General Lew Mackenzie:  “…. too little commentary addresses the critical issue of the appropriateness and adequacy of the F-35 for the roles it would be required to carry out in support of a Canadian defence policy. In the absence of such policy, it is reasonable to assume that if it existed it would task the Canadian forces with two roles in priority: one, maintain the ability to exert sovereignty on and over the second largest land mass in the world including our territorial waters; and two, contribute to multi-national operations abroad in support of our national interests and/or alliance obligations ….” 
• “Posera-HDX, a leading hospitality software provider, announced …. that the Department of National Defence has selected the Maitre’D software solution, developed by Posera-HDX, as their standard (point of sale) POS system for hospitality operations across 26 national messes.  The POS Implementation Project, led by the Director General Personnel and Family Support Services (DGPFSS), was initiated by the need standardize processes, equipment, support, and customer service ….”
• “The Department of National Defence (DND) requires for the installation of water repellent side fasteners on exhisting BIVY bags. Delivery to Montreal, Quebec and Edmonton, Alberta, requested by June 30, 2014.  Option quantities of 30,000 units may be exercised during a 48 month period from award of contract for the additional sleeping bags on the field ….”
  
• “Lockheed Martin Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets of the engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business of Aveos Fleet Performance, Inc., located in Montreal, Canada.  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are not material to Lockheed Martin. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions ….”

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