In fact, I think you and I had just had a conversation about that recently, Mr. Norlock.
I first of all want to acknowledge some innovative trials that have been conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly the RCAF wings that are responsible for search and rescue, SAR. There's an old model where they would have what was called a 30-minute response posture. Very typically that would be between sort of 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, but beginning two to three years ago at CFB Trenton, the RCAF SAR wings began, I would say, a more intelligent readiness posture where they would stand up more resources to the 30-minute response posture during times when they more frequently get calls of distress; for example, weekends in the summer as opposed to weekdays in the winter. Now we intend to make that a general policy across all of the three SAR wings in the RCAF.
In addition to that I'm pleased to inform the committee that the Department of National Defence and Public Works have just issued a request for proposals for fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft. This has been one of those frustrating procurement files for a number of reasons going back more than a decade, but I'm pleased to say that we will now be receiving proposals on a replacement for the Buffalo fixed-wing SAR aircraft. This will allow us to modernize our equipment.
Of course the new maritime helicopters that we'll begin receiving in fact next month in Shearwater will also enhance our air SAR response capability.