Terror duty cut, due to lack of planes

[Said1]

Mon, November 29, 2004

Terror duty shelved over lack of planes
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, Parliamentary Bureau

A SHORTAGE of planes has forced the Canadian military to cut an anti-terrorism air surveillance mission down from six months to just two. Two Aurora maritime patrol aircraft and their crew of 65 will pull out of Operation Sirius, the air force's contribution to the war on terrorism, by Christmas -- they deployed only last month.

Lt.-Col. Yvan Boilard, commander of the Canadian contingent stationed in Sigonella, Italy, said the planes' age and the need for upgrades have limited Canada's ability to answer NATO's calls for air surveillance.

"And as a result of the aircraft being modernized in Canada, the length of our deployment was basically dictated by the fact that the aircraft will be required to go into the shop," Boilard said in a teleconference from Italy.

Boilard said that means Aurora crews are going "to take a breather" from deployments until enough planes have been upgraded.

'ONGOING PROJECT'

"Once the aircraft is fully modernized, which is an ongoing project at this stage, I would anticipate the Aurora fleet will be deployed probably more readily and for longer periods of time," he said.

The army is in the midst of its 18-month break from major missions abroad, while the navy has just ended its respite. The majority of all military commitments are usually six months, but Canada decided last month to cut the deployment of the two Auroras and their crews down to two months.

"When we consider all of the things that we can do, we also have to consider the fact that the aircraft is getting old and it needs to be modernized," Boilard said.

The only Auroras working abroad are the two stationed in Italy.

The remaining 16 long-range patrol planes monitor Canada's coastlines unless they're grounded for maintenance.

Canada purchased its 18 Auroras in 1980.

They are able to fly for 9,000 km or 12 hours before refuelling, making them an ideal fit for a Mediterranean mission, said Boilard.

"And, indeed, it's one of the best in the world to do this," he said, adding Canada can take credit for significantly cutting back on illegal immigration, tracking suspected terrorists and keeping the Mediterranean safe.

"These people are able to move around fairly well undetected, at least in the past," he said. "And we are doing our best to make sure that we detect them."

Boilard said the age of the planes and shortage of equipment require his ground crews to get creative to ensure the two Auroras can fly.

"We are operating here, making up our own procedures, what we don't have in terms of kit when we compare ourselves to some of the other players in the area," he said.

CONTRACTS PITCHED

To date, the military has tendered 16 of 23 upgrade contracts, which will be conducted over a 10-year period.

So far, only 13 of the 18 long-range aircraft have undergone one of the four major upgrade blocks

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