CH-149 Cormorant Helicopters Resume Normal Operations

CFB WINNIPEG – The Air Force’s fleet of 15 CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters has resumed normal flying operations today after being under operational restrictions since April 1.

The operational restrictions limited the Cormorants to actual search and rescue operations and very limited flying to maintain aircrew proficiency, forcing the cancellation of other training flights.

Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, Maj.-Gen. Marc Dumais, imposed the restrictions as a precautionary measure following the crash of a Royal Navy Merlin Mk. 1 helicopter in the United Kingdom on March 30. The Canadian CH-149 Cormorant and British Merlin helicopters are mechanically similar.

“With the results of the investigation into the Merlin crash and the engineering work done by the manufacturer, I’m satisfied that we can resume normal Cormorant operations,” said Maj.-Gen. Dumais. “In this situation, like any other, I will not authorize members of your Air Force to operate aircraft unless I am satisfied they can do it in the safest way possible.”

The Air Force’s fleet of 15 CH-149 Cormorant helicopters was purchased in 2002. Search and rescue squadrons fly Cormorants at 8 Wing Trenton, 9 Wing Gander, 14 Wing Greenwood and 19 Wing Comox. The powerful Cormorant is capable of carrying up to 17 passengers and a crew of five, has a payload of over 5000-kilograms and a range of over 1300 kilometers.