OTTAWA -- Only half of the surveillance aircraft and rescue helicopters designated to guard Canada's coastlines are able to report for duty on any given day, newly released figures show. And that poor availability rate has defence critics wondering how the country would cope with a major disaster.
Figures presented to the Senate security and defence committee show the air force is able to muster only nine of its 20 CP-140 aging maritime patrol aircraft on any given day for surveillance of the country's three coastlines.
And just seven of the 14 CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters, purchased just a few years ago, can be called upon for duty.
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