Article Posted on : - Jan 31, 2012

Artist's rendering of a Canadian Chinook. ABoeing photo.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (BNS): Boeing has selected three Canadian firms to receive the first group of work packages for in-service support of 15 Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters, designated CH-147F for the Canadian Forces.

Through Canada's Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) Policy, Boeing's IRB commitments on the Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter In-Service Support Programme will bring benefits of approximately US$2 billion to Canada over a 20-year period, Boeing said in a statement.

"Boeing is working with companies across Canada to ensure the right infrastructure is in place to support the Canadian Forces' CH-147F fleet," said Jim O'Neill, vice president and general manager, Boeing Integrated Logistics.

"We will support the operational readiness of these Chinooks while managing overall life-cycle cost and providing long-term opportunities for the Canadian aerospace industry and workforce."

Competitions are ongoing with Canadian firms for additional in-service support work packages. The Company expects to announce those selections later this year.

In August 2009, the government of Canada announced it would acquire 15 CH-47F Chinooks to address the Canadian Forces Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter requirement.

The Canadian CH-147F Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that features a modernized airframe with a long-range fuel system, fully integrated digital cockpit management system, Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit, self-protection system, improved electrical systems and advanced cargo-handling capabilities.

Life-cycle support of these aircraft will be delivered through a long-term Performance Based Logistics (PBL) programme that will provide full system logistics and training services, it added.