Over CKOM radio, a Sea King heliicopter has crashed, near Denmark – all 5 crew members are safe.
It was with HMCS Athabaskan.
Related News – Paul Martin holds final “unapologetic” news conference as PM;
“But I feel very proud of what we have accomplished.”
Update: CTV has a report up now.
The downed Sea King is currently sitting in 16 metres of water in calm seas, and has been marked with bouys.
One hopes these are for marine navigation, and not recovery, purposes.
Could we use some help from the Danes? I heard they are sending more troops to Iraq.
Sounds to me that the Danes actually have some backbone. I hope PMSH lives up to his words. Somehow, I suspect he will.
“But I feel very proud of what we have accomplished.”
I’m proud of him. He seems to have single-handedly smashed the Liberal Party. I’m in awe.
Ah the Sea King, Canada’s first manned missle.
First thing you hear when you see a Sea King:
Hey look a Helicopter.
Second thing:
Lookout its gonna crash.
Colin, that statement is an afront to the men and women who maintain the seaking on a daily basis. They are some of the best Aviation and Avionics systems technicians in the world. I realize your statement was an attempt at humour aimed squarely at the LoC but take into consideration the men and women of the airforce who maintain these helicopters. They are very good at what they do, and very proud of their efforts. How do I know? I have worked side by side with them as well as trained a good lot of them.
Cheers
And our border guards are on the run. Again.
Ideally, we should send the bill to Chretien.
As for Martin, I had to quickly change the channel.
His hysteria during the campaign was so vile I don’t want to ever hear his voice again. The schmuck!
I’m glad he’s proud of the fact that the LPC cancelled that helicopter contract and forced our military to use outdated equipment. Gawd, I’m glad he’s gone (I hope)
seems that with having to work on a Sea King for 8 ? hours for every hour in the sky, it wouldn’t be too long to become an expert.
I’m not making fun of the members of our Canadian Forces, but this game of choosing Sikorsky or Agusta based on political favors owed.. has cost too much money, and how many lives?
coming on a day when ex-PMPM says he is so proud of his bull shit… ufff. it’s almost an exclamation point to the Liberals.
Off Topic…
there is a new virus being launched tomorrow so watch out for the spam.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060202/kamasutra_virus_060202/20060202?hub=TopStories
sea king pilot – kamekaze pilot
it really disturbs me that those who risk their lives for this country do so flying the equipment we give them to operate.
the cancelation and money paid to do so are just another one of the crown jewels on why i hate liberal politics. they are just so fn arogant with my hard earned dollars
The problem with a liar is that after a while they believe their own lies. Paul Martin sitting there this morning was sickening. He actually believed that he had things to be proud of. Get the man into see a Doctor, he needs medication right away….
odie 441,
Lighten up,dude. I don’t believe for a sec that Colin was aiming a missile at our guys and gals in uniform, but at the piece of crap they have to work on!
AWS 572
Right on rusty . . . the slap was on the equipment not the troops.
Let’s all agree it is the Lieberals and especially the numbnuts Cretin who needs to be bitch slapped over the state of equipment in the forces.
speaking as someone with Service under the belt.
Actually I think it is closer to 20-25 hours maintenance for every hour of flight time.
Paul Martin saying good bye…..once again.
Wasn’t there an old movie titled “The Long Good-bye”???
Wasn’t there also someone who kept doing the last concert??? Was that Celine Dion??? I could be wrong, but I do recall that there was someone who kept saying good by so many times that people were saying….”Good by already…just go….”
RZ
ok Shawn, thanks, CBC says 30 hours for every hour in the sky. maybe the ex-PMPM needs a ride home?
really, they need 1 week of maintenance, after flying from Saskatoon to Regina?
these guys must be the “Orange County Choppers” of helicopter maintenance….
That’s a bum rap, people. The Sea King is one of the best choppers ever made. It ranks right up there with the DC3 for durability.
Ours have over 40 years of constant flying in North Atlantic storms, freezing salt water spray and thousands of “controlled crashes” being hauled down onto tiny pitching flight decks by the beartrap system.
It is criminal abuse to push machinery that hard past it’s life expectancy. It is a guarantee of injuries and deaths.
Do not make fun of equipment that has served far beyond it’s design, blame the cynical bastards in Ottawa that force our troops to use it.
We should invade an island while we are over there. Maybe that rock with the mermaid on it.
They will be intimidated by our helicopters….
It’s amazing those planes are still flying. Most are older than the pilots who fly them.
Disgrace to Canada, thank you Liberals. Now they want to order Sikorsky helicopters which are no good for sea faring…I smell kickbacks. Hopefully the Conservatives will break contract, pay the fine, and get back to the ording Wealand heli’s.
cheers
tom
Helocopters/Cretchen/Martin
HMCS Assiniboine spent 5 yrs with the development of ships carrying helo’s. I spent 3 1/2 yrs on Assiniboine so I have some knowledge of the sea kings. This helo weighs 11 tons full load and when landing is dropped the last 5 feet. That is a lot of punishment and things wear out faster. Thanks to our soft comunist government for the last 40 yrs these helos have not been maintaned with new parts or been added to as air frames wear out. The sea king is still a good aircraft just not a 45 plus year old one. When killer cretchen and his buddy the weasel decided to cancel the helo contract they setsnced a number of airmen to death as surely as if they put a gun to their head and pulled the trigger. That should be their legacy.
To PMPM as I said in my e-mail to him 24 Jan 06
BYE-BYE ASSHOLE
Along the same lines, what are our state of the art submarines doing? These should have been returned to their supplier when the numerous problems were first found. I have a feeling we will be dumping $ hand over fist into these things too. Let’s see — 24 hours of maintenance should let us cruise Victoria’s inner harbor for an hour for the tourists, then back in for maintenance.
TimR- re: border guards -“…there is a female working alone last night, a fairly inexperienced one,”
Am I reading that CTV link right? I hope there is another person in the bunk house or something because excuse my bluntness but this is a potential rape waiting to happen…
How stund is our government with border guards. I know some ports are remote, but even the more dangerous. I remember driving through the Alberta/Montana border south of the reserve and one guy was sitting by the fence watching the grass grow, he was the only thing between me and Canada/US.
Ah, our Sea-Kings: each one best described as 30,000 bolts flying and/or crashing in tight formation.
Finally, finally, FINALLY we can look forward to some hard-earned taxpayer dollars going to buy decent equipment for our boys in the Forces, instead of Cretin’s sleazy pals in France who want to peddle their inferior junk to us.
Let’s all thank our lucky stars that we have gotten rid of the Culture of Corruption we’ve had to endure for so long…
Sorry, alienated, but the Sykorskis that the Forces are getting are American, the Commorant was European. But a agree with you’re sentiment, they are not as good.
As for the Sea King, I am most pleased that the crew are safe. It is a good thing that Paul Martin is not Prime Minister. Since the Sea King is only in 16 metres of water he would probably recover it and continue to use it for another 40 years. I agree that the Techs that keep those dinosaurs flying are wonderful people but it is a waste of their time to spend 30+ hours of servicing for each engine run time hour….
As for Paul’s latest news conference.. Did he resign or did he not? Mr. Dithers can’t even QUIT with any sense of finality… He must be the phoenix ready to rise from the fire that Mckenna, Manly and Tobin are so hastily running away from…
Northern: The Seaking should be recovered- then mounted on a dung pile outside the Liberal party HQ and used as a permanent memorial to the greed, sleeze, theft and callous self-interest. Chretien and Martin to officiate at the dedication of said memorial.
The armed forces deserve better support than these guys have provided.
I am a US Navy Pilot. I flew the US H-3 seaking for six years. A wonderful piece of equipment. Before that, I started out as an enlisted man. One of my enlisted tours was working of the mighty H-2 seasprite.
Anyway, in 1986 I am on a North Atlantic cruise on board the USS John Hancock. Along with us was the HMCS Algonquin. I got to spend two weeks working with the Seaking detachment on that ship. Very fun. Back then the helos were in great shape and not too overloaded yet. The best part was my rack on the Algonquin was next to the beer fridge. That and sangys (sp). I recall there was nightly wine for sale or something like that. The most frustrating thing was that the Algonquin (ships crew)was a French-Canadian crew. The Seaking detatchment was English speaking though. Fun time.
Anyway back on topic, the US Navy just reitred the last of its Seakings last week. Go here to read: http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=98721&ran=67880
At least the US was smart enough to start phasing the whirlybird out long ago, we’re still using them as front line support.
Likewise, not sure if the US version got as much a beating as the Canadian ones, frigid Atlantic weather, bear traps, and winter.
Good heli, no doubt, but past her prime, let her retire with dignity.
Now don’t get those Blackhawk ones…useless in the water, tends to flip. Get the European Wealands(?).
cheers
tom
Tomax – we currently do fly the Agusta westland EH101, we call it the CH-149 Cormorant. It has replaced the CH-113 Labrador/Voyager It has it share of growing pains though. The entire fleet is currently grounded due to cracking problems with the tail rotor half hub. It is still a wonderful machine though. The US Marines are taking delivery of specially equipped EH101’s to ferry the President around. It will be called the US101. The Brits fly the EH101 as well and call it the Merline. I cannot say anything with regard to the CH-148 Cyclone,(the Seaking replacement) as they have not been built yet.
My Kudos are to the boys at survival systems in Dartmouth NS. I fly offshore in the civilian S-61, basically a stretch Sea King adapted for people hauling. Wonderful helo, far better than the super Puma’s used offshore Newfoundland.
Bottom line, if that helo is on the bottom, than probably the crew owe their lives to the underwater egress training provided by survival systems. I’ve been through four times, 4 escapes each time; without it, you’re toast.
Sea King under water?
If it was up to Paul, he’d probably have it raised, blow-dryed, and back in operation the next day. :))
The government is being sued, for a mere billion dollars over alleged political interference by the governing Liberals into the bidding process to replace the Sea Kings.
So I guess not only did the Liberals buy faulty used subs, but they stand accused of bungling the bidding process for replacing the aging Sea Kings.
The suit, goes to court this summer. I see it as being the final nails in the Liberal coffin.
http://www.theinfozone.net/#billion
TIZ
A suggestion to the incoming Government: Yes, for Gods’ sake replace the Sea King. And while you’re at it, get the Snowbirds into state of the art fighters, ie the CF-18, with a new paint scheme. These guys are amazing pilots, and I love watching them at the Abbotsford Air Show. The Tutor they fly is as old as the Sea King, so let’s outfit them in the manner they deserve, after all, they are supposed to represent Canada to the world.
Once again, the source of my discontent with the LPC over the past many years is Chretien. Martin was a stooge, as FM and PM. I only hope that the CPC finds enough evidence to charge JC with a serious crime. I’d love to see his arrogant butt rot in jail for a long time.
Tomax – re the border guard. Go read this account of the story – it’s even worse.
On Wednesday night, U.S. police warned an inexperienced, unarmed female guard working alone that a fugitive was believed to be headed for her post. A union official said the man had told American police that he would not be captured alive and escaped in a high-speed chase.
The Canadian guard on duty, a contract worker, was afraid of being punished by her bosses for exercising her right to refuse dangerous work, said Moran. So she worked through the night and through her fear.
Management talked her through it, calling her or receiving a call from her every 15 minutes, Moran said.
“That’s how they decided to deal with it. ‘I’ll call you every 15 minutes to see if you’re alive.’ There’s an acknowledgement from everyone that the border officers need to be armed, especially in these remote locations,” Moran said.
A more senior officer came to relieve her in the morning, learned of the situation and walked off the job.
“I realize your statement was an attempt at humour aimed squarely at the LoC but take into consideration the men and women of the airforce who maintain these helicopters.”
Uhhh,–then–why do they crash so often?
Horny Toad
Denmark, eh?
I wonder if someone showed the pilot those awful Mohommed cartoons. I hear they’re apalling and blasphemous. I could imagine one of those knocking a Sea King outta the sky.
Damn those infidels and their infidoodles. Damn them.
Man, that is sad about the lady border guard, like I mentioned earlier, talk about baiting perverts…
A lot can happen in 15 minutes.
The other side of the story, if we arm the guards, how many would keep their jobs? Meaning are these summer employment university students or real police minded types.
I didn’t listen to PMPM today. Couldn’t stand it. I am very happy to hear that he said “But I feel very proud of what we have accomplished.” I hope the rest of the Liberal party buys into that sentiment. The longer they don’t “get it”, the longer they’ll be warming the opposition benches and the longer we have to fix this country.
Bill in Calgary
Hi Kate
I’ve only been reading your site for a few weeks now and up until your latest article on Greenspan I found all your writings to be insightful and correct. Unfortunately you are dead wrong about Greenspan. When future generation write about this era, Greenspan will go down in history as the man who destroyed the American dream and he will find his place in history along side John Law as one of histories worst shyster central bankers.
Please understand I come to this opinion about Greenspan from a libertarian point of view and many years of research of economic and monetary theory and history.
Greenspan destroyed all the good work that Fed chairman Paul Volker did before him and Greenspan proved once again that monetary financial systems based on fiat currency will always fall into a hyperinflationary collapse because of the incompetence of central bankers.
Last Nov the Fed announced that they will no longer announce M3 money supply levels. When the fed announced this gold was $470.00, today 2 1/2 months later gold is up $100.00 to $570.00US.
Why will the fed no longer announce M3 money supply figures?
The debt bubble in the US that Greenspan created is ready to burst into a massive deflationary depression that will make the 1930’s deflationary depression look like a picnic and the only way the fed has to counter this bursting debt bubble is to hyperinflate the money supply. This massive increase in the US money supply will set the stage for hyperinflation over the next 5 – 8 years then we fall into a deflationary collapse that will last decades. This is the main reason the Fed will no longer announce the money supply numbers to hide the massive money creation they are about to impark on. The gold market understands this and this is the major reason for gold resent rise. History will understand that Greenspan and President Clinton holds most of the responsibility for the debt bubble that the US and the rest of the world is in today. Sorry Kate, Greenspan is no hero!
Got Gold?
Sorry, Greenspan post on wrong thread
Another failed Sea King. Another day of shame for anyone who has voted for Chretien or Martin.
The blood of any military personnel killed flying those flying coffins is on the shoulders of Chretien.
Canada will pay fo this outrageous bungling for many more years
There was a time when Canadians were proud of their military prowess and our shared heritage includes defining moments like Dieppe & Vimy Ridge. The Liberals, starting with Trudeau, have systematically underfunded, unmanned and demoralized the Armed Forces as well as the RCMP.
The SeaKing helicopters were an excellent aircraft for their time which was 40+ years ago, pre-Trudeau! They’ve become a symbol of the disrespect with which the Liberals treat our military.
Did you ever wonder why the Liberals hate the military and the RCMP so much? It’s because the men and women who volunteer their lives in service of their country understand and adhere to a moral code which the Liberal feel is outdated. That moral code is based on such unfashionable concepts as honesty, integrity and honour. How unLiberal!
Liberal Party of Canada sunk just like the Sea King.
Now there is a delicious parallel.
Cosmic justice as PM Paul Martin sinks into obscurity.
….It appears that the Sea King replacements are going to be late, very late. The helicopter we ordered is not the helicopter that Sikorsky showed. We order a chopper with a folding tail and folding rotors and a fly by wire system. The SH-92 has none of that, yet. These features will add weight and the folding rotor head will increase the diameter of the blades and this will cause a major problem because of hanger size limitations on the ships. If it wont fit, you must acquit (had to say that) Seriously, because the rotor size has to change and the extra weight for the folding tail, the C of G (center of Gravity) is all screwed up and thus the flight dynamics become an unknown and therefore flight testing will have to be done all over again. The gearing on the transmission will have to be re-evaluated and probably, because the rotors are longer and the tips will break the sound barrier, need to be re-engineered or replaced which may or may not be possible.
What we have here is a failure to communicate! (Damn, had to do it again.)…
SeaKing == Artificial Reef
I like it.
You don’t think they’re ditching them out of
self preservation, now do you…..
One hopes these are for marine navigation, and not recovery, purposes.
Homer: It’s just a little dirty. It’s still good, it’s still good!
It’s just a little slimy, it’s still good, it’s still good!
It’s just a little <del>airborne</del> flooded, it’s still good, it’s still good!
Bart: [Crestfallen.] It’s gone.
Homer: I know.
I weas a naval officer aboard HMCS Saguenay from 1971-1974. We flew Sea Kings then, they had a lot of down time, even then.
That was 32 years ago. Canada has one of the world’s largest coastlines, our Armed Forces have been severely neglected , mostly by liberal governments. Chr�tien’s cancellation of the helicopter contract was scandalous.
Canada has participated in many dangerous missions overseas, Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan to name a few, and it’s the same guys that get sent out time and again because the Army has shrunk to such a low manpower level.
How come when the feds were racking up large surpluses could they be so cheap with the men and women who serve us?
Yes, the military do a great job of maintaining the Sea King (30 hrs maintenance per hour of flight time and climbing, or not)
Yes, the Sea King was a great aircraft when it was built, but it is totally obsolete now, given the advantage enjoyed by submarine launched cruise missiles (SLCM)
Yes, the Cormorant is a variant of the EH-101. A civilian (CM)) variant that is. Naval and search and rescue operations are the toughest on helicopters and civilian variant should not be used; hence, tail rotor cracks and other problems.
Yes, the Sikorsky is not a naval helicopter and must be modified. Yes, Sikorsky hasn’t even made a standard military pattern helicopter.
Yes, the Sikorsky is vastly inferior to EH-101 (not the other way around):
EH 101 has 1.6 times range of Sik, poor weather capability, superior payload and cargo capacity, better avionics and weapons platform. When all costs considered, we are actually paying more for Sik, to get delivery over a decade later. The Sik is already obsolete for primary mission, to protect the ship. No other helicopter has the range to go out 150 miles and fight sub for 1.5 hours. Sea King wouldn’t make it with full load, or like Sik would have to turn back right away.
Why is this important? Think of Persian Gulf interdiction duties. Iranian navy has several subs, particulary Kilo class which can launch SLCMs. Our close-in ship defence systems, like Phanlanx, can deal with one warhead. After that ship is serious danger and if hit by SLCM WILL SINK WITH LOSS OF LIFE LIKELY OVER 100.
My recommendation. Go back to Augusta Westland, get penalties back, make deal, break contract with Sikorsky, pay penalty and give military right piece of kit for mission within reasonable time.
I remember Chr�tien’s cancellation of the helicopter contract and the big fine we had to pay Weasland(?).
Back then I heard very little peeping or how serious our situation was. People loved the Liberals.
Funny how times change.
Now we got dead soliders/airmen who literally gave their lives for the country. I honestly don’t know how anyone who voted/votes for the Liberals can go to sleep at night.
From WestEdmontonMall submarine types that can’t go under water, to old CF-18s to Snowbird tutors to aging Hercules, we are in a serious problem if they are pressed into domestic service.