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Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has told Skies that it will not be bidding on a Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) proposal to acquire eight medium-lift helicopters. AgustaWestland and Airbus Helicopters had previously confirmed their withdrawal from the competition and Sikorsky’s decision leaves Bell Helicopter Textron Canada’s twin-turbine Bell 412 as the only prospective offering.
Sikorsky spokeswoman Callie Ferrari said in a May 1 email that the company had reviewed CCG specifications and evaluated the S-76D and the US Coast Guard H-60 — and decided that the former “appeared to be the best fit.” However, she added, “after careful consideration, Sikorsky Aircraft decided not to bid.”
The CCG has set a weight limit of 11,000 lbs. (4,989 kg), apparently limited by deck specifications on new ships which are still in the design stage. The 412 tips the scale at 6,789 lbs. (3,079 kg) empty with a maximum takeoff weight of 11,900 lbs. (5,397 kg), suggesting that it would never be employed to full capacity.
The current CCG medium fleet is comprised of five late-1970s Bell 212s and three late-1960s Bell 206Ls.
CCG helicopters are tasked mainly with maintenance and construction of aids to navigation and telecommunications equipment, ice reconnaissance, and ship-to-shore personnel and cargo transfers, as well as search-and-rescue backup for the Department of National Defence, support for various departments’ research programs and enforcement of fisheries laws.
