Evidence of meeting #48 for National Defence in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, National Research Council Canada
So we're talking about what the product has to be able to achieve, as opposed to what product can achieve that.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
On the mixed fleet thing, because we're talking about that quite a lot, and you mentioned that cost is not your part of the ship, but I know you have a lot of experience in these kinds of areas.... I'll just make a statement and ask for a comment.
When we bought the F-18, we looked at various mixed fleets, and it was our conclusion that a mixed fleet of the two cheapest airplanes in that competition would be more expensive than a single fleet of the most expensive airplane in that competition, because it related to spares and test equipment and support equipment and training, publications--all those things that would have to be considered with a mixed fleet. If you were doing a study and it included a cost on mixed fleet versus single fleet, would those be similar things that would obviously have to be looked at?
President, National Research Council Canada
I certainly wouldn't disagree with your statement; that decision was made and determined that finding. But I don't think we're necessarily talking about one operator either, which has an influence on that sort of thing. So if you talk about--
Conservative
President, National Research Council Canada
Yes, mixed provisions. There are different ways of achieving, and that's the whole point, right? You can go down one path that takes you to a particular space very quickly, or you can try to go down a path that opens up options and actually creates more innovation and creativity in that response, and maybe gives you a better response than you would otherwise have.
Conservative
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
I am going to pick up on that point for just a moment, very quickly, though.
Do you find the dynamics are different, though, say from Comox to Greenwood or Gander, in the sense that one aircraft is better suited for the terrain or for the area for that reason? I'm not a pilot, but nonetheless I am sure there are different dynamics when it comes to the east and west coasts. Did you discover that in your study?
President, National Research Council Canada
Well, I would say that doesn't need to be discovered. That's probably a truism, but--
Liberal
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
I think in our report we have indicated that there is perhaps a need to define what's called “a statement of operational intent”, a generic document that could be referenced by a statement of operational requirement, which could contain a mix of missions, mission scenarios, and profiles that the aircraft would have to meet. That's one way of doing it.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Yes, such as, for instance, that the offshore activity off Newfoundland is not--
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
I would perhaps give an example of an operation in a mountainous terrain--
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
--where there is a need for tight turns and terrain following. That's a very specific requirement on their ability--
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
It certainly leads to your argument about the mixed fleet scenario, would it not?
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
Not necessarily.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay.
Within the study itself, you say you discussed with people, with SAR techs, flight engineers, and pilots, and that those discussions took place.
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
Yes.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Without giving any reference to a specific airplane, what did they want? For example, what does a SAR tech or a flight engineer want in an aircraft as to its cargo size?
I appreciate your study, by the way. I learned a lot from the factors involved for SAR techs who get involved--for instance, the helmets, the bubble windows, and that sort of thing--but what were they looking for? What would be their choice on what they would consider to be the best aircraft for what they do?
Director General, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada
You're asking something that's slightly outside of the report that we provided.
Liberal
