OTTAWA — The federal government says Canada will spend $2.3 billion to replace the military’s ancient search-and-rescue planes with 16 new aircraft from European aerospace giant Airbus.The Airbus C-295 will replace the air force’s existing planes, Public Procurement Minister Judy Foote announced today at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, one of the four bases where the new aircraft will be located.”This is a significant investment to replace our fleets of Buffalo and Hercules aircraft, strengthen Canada’s capability to conduct search-and-rescue operations and keep Canadians safe,” she said as Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Royal Canadian Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Mike Hood stood nearby.
Communities in the Comox Valley are celebrating plans to build a new training centre for Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue pilots in Comox, B.C.Plans for a simulator and training centre at 19 Wing Comox were part of a federal announcement about the purchase of new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft on Thursday.”We are advised that this training centre will be a significant infrastructure investment in the community, in the town of Comox and at the airbase,” said Comox Mayor Paul Ives.
