Airbus Military Canada’s SAR and airlift expertise is spotlighted at the 2009 Trenton Armed Forces Weekend
July 6, 2009
Airbus Military Canada exhibited at the annual Trenton Armed Forces Weekend, where the company was joined by other key industrial partners to underscore the C295’s capabilities for Canada’s Fixed-Wing Search-and Rescue mission.
The Airbus Military Canada stand included representatives from Pratt & Whitney Canada – producer of the C295’s turboprop powerplants, and FLIR Systems – which provides the SAR aircraft’s forward-looking infrared sensor system.
During the July 4-5 event at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, the Airbus Military exhibit stand was visited by senior Canadian Forces officers and SAR technicians, who were briefed on the C295’s qualifications in the search and rescue role. They heard about actual SAR mission experience of the worldwide C295 fleet, including the recent deployment of a Brazilian Air Force aircraft in search and recovery efforts for the Air France jetliner that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
Key features of the C295 were highlighted for visitors at the Trenton air show, including its long cabin that allows the installation of four spotter windows to provide excellent visibility – including unobstructed views underneath the aircraft.
Airbus Military’s overall airlift support expertise was emphasised at the Trenton Armed Forces Weekend by the presence of a Canadian Forces CC150 configured as a multi-role tanker/transport (MRTT). This aircraft – which is derived from the Airbus A310 jetliner – performed fly-by demonstrations in formation with two Canadian Forces CF/A-18 fighter aircraft, which joined up with the CC150 for a typical aerial refuelling rendezvous.
The Canadian Forces have five CC150s that are operated for the transportation of passengers, cargo and government VIPs. Two of them are outfitted as well for the in-flight tanker mission – carrying two under-wing hose and drogue pods, and equipped with a cabin-installed aerial refuelling mission system.
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