Evidence of meeting #52 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aircraft.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
NDP
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thanks very much.
It's good to hear from you today. I have three questions.
One of them is regarding the search and rescue fleet replacement plan, and we're aware the then Chief of the Defence Staff General Henault identified this as a priority in 2003. The Conservative Party campaigned on replacing the 17 search and rescue fleet replacement program in 2005. It's been identified as a priority in the Canada First defence strategy, but as of today there is still no request for proposals.
I understand that the Buffalos are out in the west coast, and we love them dearly even though they need to go to museums to replace parts by now. I just want to understand how the aging fleet and the replacements not yet in sight affect your operational cost structure in your fleet at Trenton.
Col David W. Lowthian
Thank you for the question, ma'am.
I'll speak specifically for the C-130H fleet that we have here in Trenton, where we have five aircraft to maintain. Through a specialized team of maintainers and some contract personnel, they're able to keep this fleet fairly healthy to meet the response postures that we're mandated to hold. I haven't seen any serviceability issues that would prevent me from meeting my mandate here.
As to the life expectancy of the aircraft, we're okay there as well by having procured this CC-130J model Hercules specifically for the tactical airlift role. It has allowed us to put our energies into the H model fleet only for its search and rescue role. That's allowed us to more or less corral the expertise and the aircraft that we had to focus mainly on that role.
The same thing can be said for the Griffon fleet, obviously part of a larger fleet when you think of the tactical aviation aspect but these aircraft here, the three CH-146s that I have are committed entirely to search and rescue, they're not interchanged with our attack aviation partners.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
You've moved the pieces around to avoid the higher downtime and operations maintenance costs of keeping aging fleets useable.
I also wanted to ask about the strategic airlift capability in Operation Impact. I think a previous question was about how Canada's defence of North America would be affected if these planes were in an international theatre.
Could you tell me what our special competence is given that we are the ones providing this much strategic airlift capability? Is this an area of particular competence for Canada and how do we compare with other coalition partners in the use of these kinds of planes for delivery of supplies and materials in the operations theatre, and in Operation Impact specifically?
Conservative
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
The study is on the defence of North America. I know that the colonel is well briefed on everything we're doing in Operation Impact, especially with the C-17s and the other heavy-lift tactical aircraft. I would just say that we're here to discuss the state of the defence of North America. I would leave it to the colonel on whether or not he wants to reply to that, but it is beyond the scope of our study today.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I just would like to make the point.... I know that Mr. Bezan loves to interfere with my questions with points of order pretty much every time, and I would like—
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
—to make the point that there is a connection between the use of assets internationally compared to what's available here. That's already been established, so I'm asking why there is a specific competency such that we would be using this.
Secondly, Mr. Bezan's party spares no effort or opportunity to point out that their view is that Operation Impact is directly about terrorist threats to Canada and North America, so there is a clear and direct connection, at least in the Conservative Prime Minister's mind. Therefore, I would think that's good enough to ask this question here in committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
Thank you, Ms. Murray.
Thank you, Mr. Bezan.
Colonel, please answer within the context of the defence of North America, but recognizing, of course, the load that missions abroad place on your ability to serve and defend North America.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Well, no, my question was, is there a special competency and contribution that Canada is making through its strategic airlift capability and is that why it's a critical part of our mission in Iraq?
Col David W. Lowthian
Thank you.
I'll speak first of all to the strategic airlift capability, because up until 2007, before we had the C-17, the CC-177 Globemaster, we were somewhat challenged in our ability to respond in the way we have since we've obtained that aircraft. There are four elements to the strategic airlift capability that the C-17 brings to me as commander of 8 Wing, to my squadron commander who's in charge of deploying these aircraft, and ultimately to Canada as a whole: responsiveness, relevance, reliability, and reach. Those are four elements, I would argue, that it brings in spades, and that we benefit from as a service and as a way of projecting our values and our capabilities.
In a responsive manner, it can leave when we're told and when we need it to. We don't have to lease that capability anymore. In regard to relevance, with the size of loads that it can carry, whether it's for a humanitarian cause or to support our troops deployed on a combat mission, we're getting in volume the equipment they require. Also, when there's outsized cargo, etc., we know that we can bring it. On reliability, this capability is more than just an aircraft. It comes with a global sustainment and support partnership with other services that fly this aircraft, with Boeing. Last is its reach. With the distances it can fly and the speeds at which it can fly, we know that we can build air bridges—like we did for Op Renaissance into the Philippines—in really no other way.
That's really what a strategic airlift capability like the C-17's provides us: responsiveness, relevance, reliability, and reach. As I said, whether it's a combat or humanitarian mission that we're supporting, it can do it like no other capability, and we own the decision as to when and where it goes.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
So it makes a unique contribution to the coalition efforts in Operation Impact?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thank you.
I have a last question about air reserves. I note that you have air reserves in your responsibility.
Earlier in the conversation at this committee, there was a discussion about recruitment being at 9.1% whereas the target is 70% to 100%. Is that a challenge in Trenton and within your area of command? If so, what's being done to address that lack of recruitment in air reserves?
Col David W. Lowthian
With overall manning levels here in Trenton, for each priory that my units hold, I am quite satisfied with where I'm at. When you do bring up the element of reservists within the air force, this is where the air force may be a different paradigm than, say, the army. We would be comparing apples to oranges in this case. The reason I say this is that for the army to recruit reservists and fill the ranks with infantry soldiers who require some baseline basic training and then some infantry-specific training, it doesn't take that long to build that capacity.
It is different, though, for an air force that relies on a technician force that is skilled in airworthiness decisions and practices, be it for airframe—i.e., engines, landing gear, those types of structures—or, more and more so now, for the software components that allow an aircraft to answer to the mission that it does today. Lastly, there is a structures element to what they do in rebuilding parts and components that takes considerable training. In fact, the civilian qualifications on the outside would equate to at least a three-year college diploma and some experience to get them there. I think that's probably the biggest challenge on reservists within the air force.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
Thank you, Colonel. Ms. Murray, that's time.
Beginning the five-minute round is Mr. Williamson, please.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Colonel, thank you for joining us here today by teleconference.
I just have a couple of questions to begin with. We've recently heard about Canadian Forces Station Alert. Could you first expand on the role that 8 Wing Trenton plays in supporting Alert, and also how this role contributes to Canada's protection and surveillance of the Arctic?
Col David W. Lowthian
Certainly, sir. Thank you, Mr. Williamson.
First of all, with Trenton being an air mobility hub, we possess the capabilities there to reach into the Arctic and keep them sustained on a weekly or so basis. That's number one.
Number two is command and control. The commanding officer up in Alert right now, Major Brian Tang, answers to me. I am the formation commander who ensures that his command and control requirements are supported. That's number two.
The third element, of course, which is in evolution right now, is infrastructure. Contracting and looking after the infrastructure at CFS Alert is an 8 Wing responsibility that is in the processes of being handed off to the ADM(IE), our Assistant Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Environment. They are taking that on, as they are with just about every other base in Canada over the next year or so.
Those are my three roles there.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Thank you.
You were saying that you might be up to Alert weekly. What plane or planes typically go up to bring up supplies and personnel changes, etc.?
Col David W. Lowthian
We call that a 85/86 mission. On a routine basis, it would normally be a CC-130J Hercules aircraft that would go. Having said that, though, we have sent some of our H models from our search and rescue squad up there to give the crews more Arctic exposure.
Lastly, once in a while you will see the C-17 tasked, if there is a larger-than-normal load. We take advantage of those flights, as mentioned earlier, in that when that aircraft goes in full of cargo and personnel, it can also carry more fuel in its tanks than most of our other aircraft. They always seize that opportunity and offload the extra fuel from the tanks of the aircraft to support Alert.
