Latest news with #CH-146Griffon
Winnipeg Free Press
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Firefighting help arrives from Quebec, more coming from U.S.; evacuees should expect to be away for weeks, Flin Flon mayor says
More than 150 firefighters from Quebec and the U.S. are joining the battle against massive wildfires raging in northern Manitoba, while some evacuees were warned they could be displaced for weeks. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said 99 firefighters from the U.S. were being sent to Manitoba. Quebec's Forest Fire Protection Society said 60 wildland firefighters travelled to Manitoba Tuesday for a 14-day mission. Crews from the U.S. are expected to arrive this week, a Manitoba government spokesperson said. 'We place crews where and when they are needed, so those decisions will be made in real time,' the spokesperson wrote in an email. Local fire departments from across Manitoba have sent teams to the North to help protect areas such as Flin Flon. The City of Flin Flon said up to 250 personnel are fighting a fire that is on the community's doorstep. No structural losses have been reported so far. 'They're fighting fires right on the edge of town,' Mayor George Fontaine said. 'They're right in the thick of it. It's a very tight situation. It hasn't changed, and it will be for some time.' A mandatory evacuation of Flin Flon, home to about 5,000 people, was ordered May 28. Residents were told Wednesday to prepare for the possibility that it will be some time until it is safe for them to return. 'Weeks is a minimum,' said Fontaine, who is among the evacuees staying in Winnipeg. 'Please stay calm. Stay as comfortable as you can because you're going to be out of your community for a while.' Flin Flon's airport, which was evacuated, is still being used by emergency aircraft. Two fires are burning near Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Cross Lake. In a Facebook post, Pimicikamak Chief David Monias said one of the fires continues to jump from island to island. A Chinook helicopter has been dropping water on that fire, he said. A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130 Hercules picked up the area's final group of evacuees at Cross Lake's airport Tuesday and transported them to Winnipeg, Monias said. He said several people have chosen to remain behind despite a mandatory evacuation order. The Manitoba government has said about 17,000 people will be displaced by wildfires in the province. Many are staying with family or friends, or in hotels or shelters in places such as Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, The Pas and Thompson. The province said more than 14,300 people from more than 5,400 households had registered with the Canadian Red Cross as of Monday. Evacuees who haven't registered yet are encouraged to do so. The CAF said it has moved more than 3,800 people on evacuation flights since May 29. In addition to Cross Lake, a Hercules plane collected evacuees who had previously made their way to Norway House on Tuesday. CH-146 Griffon helicopters flew evacuees from Mathias Colomb First Nation (Pukatawagan) to The Pas. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Cision Canada
26-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MEDIA ADVISORY - Meet with Bell Textron Canada Executives at CANSEC 2025 Français
MIRABEL, QC, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell Textron Canada invites media representatives to meet with its executives and discuss key national defence issues and the modernization of Canada's military capabilities during CANSEC 2025, the country's largest defence and security trade show, taking place May 28 and 29 at the EY Centre in Ottawa. Spokespeople available for interviews: Michael Nault, General Manager, Bell Textron Canada Marc Bigaouette, Director, Canadian Government Programs, Bell Textron Canada Suggested topics: Bell's role in Canada's defence strategy, aligned with defence policy goals and recent government announcements regarding investment in aerospace capabilities Modernization of CH-146 Griffon helicopter and sustainment of the Canadian Armed Forces' largest helicopter fleet The strategic importance of the Mirabel facility, a driver of technological innovation and aerospace production in Canada Bell's role in strengthening national supply chains and maintaining industrial sovereignty in the defence sector Interviews will take place onsite at Bell Textron Canada's booth #433, at a time that best suits your schedule during the event. SOURCE Bell Textron Canada Ltd.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MEDIA ADVISORY - Meet with Bell Textron Canada Executives at CANSEC 2025
MIRABEL, QC, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell Textron Canada invites media representatives to meet with its executives and discuss key national defence issues and the modernization of Canada's military capabilities during CANSEC 2025, the country's largest defence and security trade show, taking place May 28 and 29 at the EY Centre in Ottawa. Spokespeople available for interviews: Michael Nault, General Manager, Bell Textron Canada Marc Bigaouette, Director, Canadian Government Programs, Bell Textron Canada Suggested topics: Bell's role in Canada's defence strategy, aligned with defence policy goals and recent government announcements regarding investment in aerospace capabilities Modernization of CH-146 Griffon helicopter and sustainment of the Canadian Armed Forces' largest helicopter fleet The strategic importance of the Mirabel facility, a driver of technological innovation and aerospace production in Canada Bell's role in strengthening national supply chains and maintaining industrial sovereignty in the defence sector Interviews will take place onsite at Bell Textron Canada's booth #433, at a time that best suits your schedule during the event. SOURCE Bell Textron Canada Ltd. View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada tees up military helicopter investment worth almost $13 billion
VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Canadian military hopes to start working with industry this summer on the acquisition of a new helicopter fleet that will deal with existing rotary aircraft gaps in firepower and mobility. The Next Tactical Aviation Capability Set or nTACS project will provide a joint capability to be fielded by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Army, and Canadian special forces. In addition, Canada is also planning an upgrade of its existing fleet of Chinook heavy lift helicopters, according to a Feb. 25, 2025, briefing on Canada's vertical lift capabilities. The document noted that Canada will spend $12.9 billion (CA $18.4 billion) on new tactical helicopters. The briefing was prepared by RCAF Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook, director general of air and space force development, and provided to Defense News by the Department of National Defence. The briefing pointed out that the nTACS project is in the options analysis phase but that discussions with industry are expected to begin sometime this summer. Department of National Defence spokesman Kened Sadiku told Defense News that the exact timing for soliciting industry bids was still up in the air. But the briefing noted that initial operating capability for nTACS would be expected in 2033. The new fleet would replace the existing CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet. But it would provide even more by revitalizing Canadian tactical aviation capabilities to 'address capability gaps in Firepower, C4ISR, Mobility, and Support to Special Operations Forces,' according to Cook's briefing package, compiled for use in industry presentations. The project would provide a 'return to a balanced fleet concept,' the briefing added. Sadiku did not provide further details on the breakdown of the estimated cost or where the nTACS helicopters will be based in Canada. Such details will be covered in the options analysis which is expected to be completed in the next several months. 'This will consider the possible market options for nTACS, their platform capabilities, and this will then inform basing decisions,' Sadiku noted. The Canadian Armed Forces currently operates 82 CH-146 Griffon helicopters. That helicopter is a variant of the Bell 412EP. Canada also operates 14 CH-147F Chinook medium to heavy lift helicopters. Cook's briefing deck noted that a mid-life block upgrade project is planned for that helicopter. Initial operating capability would be in 2032 with full operating capability in 2033. No cost estimates or further details were provided for that upgrade. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Air Force is in the midst of receiving modernized CH-146s to extend the fleet's service life. In May 2022 the Canadian government awarded Bell Textron Canada Limited of Mirabel, Quebec, a contract worth $560 million (CAN $800 million) for the work. The project is replacing a number of the aircraft's avionics systems, including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, navigation systems, automatic flight control systems, and control display units, according to the Canadian military. Engines will also be upgraded and sensor systems will be integrated. The upgrade will allow the fleet to continue flying until at least 2031. Full operational capability for the modernized helicopter fleet is set for 2027. Bell Textron Canada Limited announced last June that it had completed first successful flight of one of the modernized CH-146 Griffon helicopters. The first upgraded Griffon completed is expected to be delivered to the Canadian government in 2026 pending military certification, according to the government.
