Three Used Planes, Hold the Engines

September 25, 2003

OTTAWA – Canadian Alliance National Defence Critics Jay Hill and Rob Anders expressed concern with the Defence Minister’s most recent attempt at stopgap measures to keep our ageing fleet of Hercules planes in the air by soliciting information on the availability of used aircraft frames. 

“Looking for aircraft on eBay is not the answer to the military’s budgetary problems,” Hill said. 

“The bulk of the Canadian Forces fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft, nearing forty years of service, are in serious need of replacement.  An internal National Defence report released this summer indicates two-thirds of our 32 Hercules aircraft are grounded due to maintenance problems related to the age of the aircraft,” Hill said. 

Today Anders asked of the government, “These planes are essential to our overseas missions, search and rescue and humanitarian assistance, however the lion’s share of our fleet are stuck on the ground.  Is their only solution to scrounge for parts in junkyards?”

The Canadian Alliance plan to rebuild the Canadian Forces, released last Spring, includes provisions to immediately replace the C-130 Hercules aircraft.