The announcement that Airbus has won the $3 billion contract for Canada’s next search and rescue airplane could be big news for the Alberni Valley, says Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan.
The Airbus C-295 turboprop military transport plane was chosen over the Italian-based Team Spartan’s C-27J and a KC-390 jet manufactured by Brazil’s Embraer.
The new planes will replace the current fixed-wing fleet of six CC-115 Buffalo and 13 CC-130H Hercules aircraft that are being used for SAR missions—including at 19 Wing Comox on Vancouver Island.
Coulson Aviation in Port Alberni has a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to provide the tanking system for Airbus’ C295Ws, and is in line for more, Ruttan said.
“It’s huge for our community. It’s huge for our economy; it’s hundreds of jobs,” he said.
“It means dramatic investments out at the airport but also in the city itself. It strengthens our economy because it addes to the diversity of our economy,” he said.
“The aerospace industry in BC is a growing sector, $1.9 billion per year. And it’s about to get bigger.”
Coulson Aviation is in a prime position to pick up the maintenance contract, said Ruttan, who was in Ottawa in October lobbying for the Airbus deal.
“Of course, the devil will be in the details,” he added.
“The simulator for this is already being built right now at the airport, so it’s big.
“The next piece is of all the contracts that are going to be let, which ones and for how much will be coming to the Alberni Valley. That’s the critical next step.”
“The beauty for us is none of that would be possible if we as a community hadn’t decided to rebuild our airport.”
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Ruttan credited the cooperation between municipal governments and First Nations on the decision to expand the runway at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport, which will allow heavier aircraft like the Airbus C-295 to land.
“The message to the federal government that we’re together on this has been critical.”
Coulson Group CEO Wayne Coulson said the announcement was good news for Vancouver Island.
“It is great news that Airbus has won the SAR contract from a Coulson perspective as we have an existing relationship with Airbus that we will continue to build,” said Coulson.
“There are significant opportunities for Port Alberni and Vancouver Island and it will be up to the communities and companies to draw in Airbus to support this multi-billion-dollar contract.”
The first aircraft won’t be delivered to 19 Wing Comox until 2019, when a training facility is due to open, according to the government’s procurement timeline.
The final aircraft delivery and start of the maintenance and support operation contract for the aircraft is planned for 2022.
-With files from Katya Slepian
