Long awaited first operational Canadian Kingfisher arrived
On Friday 25 September 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially ontroduced its long awaited first new Fixed-Wing Search And Rescue (FWSAR) Airbus CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft.
A week earlier, on 16 September 2020, the RCAF Kingfisher (serial 295501) started her flight from the Airbus facility at Sevilla/San Pablo (Spain) to CFB Comox (B.C.). It is expected that, while making familiarisation and test flights, "501" will be immediately incorporated into the RCAF 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
The latter squadron, part of 19 Wing, flies six De Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo aircraft, which will be replaced by the Kingfisher, and five AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant rescue helicopters. Officialy, CC-295 with serial number 295517 was the first aircraft to arrive in Canada. Being a maintenance training variant of the Kingfisher, "517" was already delivered to Comox in February 2020 by an Airbus flight crew and is in use by the 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron at Comox.
The Kingfisher FWSAR has been recognised for its speed and agility, as well as its keen searching and hunting skills. Eventually to be found all across Canada, the Kingfisher is specifically designed to perform search and rescue missions across Canadian territory. The aircraft is equipped with integrated sensors that will allow crews to locate persons or objects from more than 40 kilometers away, even in low-light conditions. Its communications systems will increase interoperability with other search and rescue assets, such as the CH-149 Cormorant.
Eventually, the RCAF will operate sixteen CC-295 Kingfishers with 19 Wing at CFB Comox (B.C.), 17 Wing at CFB Winnipeg (Man.), 8 Wing at Trenton (Ont.), and 14 Wing at CFB Greenwood (N.S.); the same locations currently providing search and rescue services across the country. RCAF search and rescue aircraft and personnel are located where they can effectively respond to search and rescue incidents in all regions of Canada.
Photos: Airbus Defence and Space and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)