Vanguard Magazine

8 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com S SIT REP Viking Air Limited and PAL Aerospace Canada recently announced the establishment of a contract to support the Twin Otter Fire Attack Sys- tem. The contract includes the design, manufacturing, installation, and certification of the Aerial Firefighting System for the Twin Otter DHC-6 300 and 400 aircraft. The Aerial Firefighting System is expected to be certified in 2022 and the first aircraft will be received by an interna- tional customer. Viking and PAL Aerospace sign contract to support DHC-6 Twin Otter Aerial Firefighting System According to a news release, this agreement between Viking and PAL Aerospace is to build additional capabilities for the DHC-6 Twin Otter Se- ries 300 and 400 aircraft. The Aerial Firefighting System will allow the Twin Otter to transition effortlessly between global firefighting missions and its more traditional mission profiles, including transporting passen- gers and cargo. "PAL Aerospace is proud to partner with Viking on this exciting project that supports innovation, economic growth, and supply chains in Cana- da," said Phillip Garbutt, PAL Aerospace Senior Vice President of Global Support. "As an established DHC-6 Twin Otter Operator, we know firsthand the capability and versatility of the aircraft and consider it a privilege to bring our comprehensive design, engineering, and modification capabili- ties to bear in developing this new capability." The airtanker-configured Twin Otter aircraft will have the ability to drop up to 700 US gallons of water or retardant in challenging fire environ- ments. "We are happy to work with PAL Aerospace to provide our operators the ability to utilize our DHC-6 Twin Otter for specialized aerial firefighting missions," said Benjamin Carson, Director of Customer Support Opera- tions, Viking. "As the OEM, we work to continuously enhance the aircraft we support, providing our customers with ongoing fleet sustainment ac- tivities and upgrades." Canada receives second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship – the future HMCS Margaret Brooke Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Canada celebrated another milestone on July 15 with the delivery of the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Mar- garet Brooke – for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Named in honour of the Royal Canadian Navy Nursing Sister Lieuten- ant-Commander Margaret Martha Brooke, who was decorated for gal- lantry during the Second World War, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke will support a variety of missions at home and abroad. It will assist with coastal surveillance, search and rescue, drug interdiction, support to in- ternational partners, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief. "The delivery of this ship is a testament to the hard work and perse- verance of Canadian shipbuilders despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and will help to ensure our Navy is equipped with the modern ships it needs to assert Arctic sovereignty for years to come," said Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence. Irving Shipbuilding Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia has been contracted to build six new AOPS for the RCN. These patrol ships designed with a thick and robust hull will be able to operate in up to 120 cm of first-year sea ice and will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with enhanced access and ca- pability in the Arctic. The AOPS have ample space to transport cargo and the capacity for a Cyclone helicopter, small vehicles, and deployable boats. Next, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke will go through post-accep- tance work and final ship preparation while being docked at Jetty NJ at the CFB Halifax Dockyard. After that, a naming ceremony for the ship will be held later in 2021, with a formal commissioning ceremony expected in fall 2022 as the ship officially enters active service with the RCN. Irving is in various stages of building three other APOS, bringing the total to five, with the expected construction of the sixth ship to start in 2022. The AOPS are known as the Harry DeWolf-class ships and were named in honour of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero. The first AOPS, HMCS Harry DeWolf, was delivered on July 30, 2020, and was officially commissioned into RCN service on June 26, 2021. The photo is a mock-up of the DHC-6 Twin Otter Firefighter aircra featuring the air tanker configuration. (CNW Group/PAL Aerospace Ltd.) Aerial view of the future HMCS Margaret Brooke being moved from the Bedford Basin to Irving Shipyard in Halifax on November 10, 2019.

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