New search-and-rescue planes could be grey, not yellow
Canada’s new search-and-rescue aircraft will abandon the familiar yellow paint scheme, instead getting a makeover that will allow them to be used in other missions.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has requested its new fleet of 16 searchand-rescue planes be painted tactical grey and asked for a change in the original contract which stipulated a yellow colour scheme.
The C-295W, being built by Airbus, will replace the main search-and-rescue fleet of six Buffalo aircraft as well as the Hercules transport planes used at times in a search-and-rescue role.
The Buffalos are yellow, as are Canada’s other fully dedicated searchand-rescue aircraft such as the Cormorant helicopters.
“The RCAF has made the decision to use a grey colour scheme for the C-295W fleet to enable surging flexibility for the very wide range of missions the RCAF is required to conduct, from humanitarian and disaster relief missions, to security missions with partners, and all the way to full spectrum operations,” Department of National Defence spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said Thursday.
He noted the Hercules used in the search-and-rescue role are grey.
Sources inside DND, however, have raised concerns about what they say is a unilateral decision by the RCAF leadership. They worry the RCAF used the opportunity to replace the search-and-rescue aircraft as a way to outfit itself with a fleet of multi-mission transport planes.
RCAF insiders defended the change in the paint scheme, saying any aircraft can be called upon to be used in a variety of missions, including in an overseas war zone.
Defence analyst Martin Shadwick said it was the Canadian Forces that decided to switch to the yellow paint scheme in the 1970s because it aided in search-and-rescue.
“They said at the time that it provided the high visibility needed for search-and-rescue, both for those in the air and on the ground,” said Shadwick, who teaches strategic studies at York University.
Shadwick said having the new fleet available for overseas missions raises new questions. Private-sector employees are going to play the main role in maintaining the planes.
“So, if you are now going to use the C-295 in a front-line role, maybe even as combat transport, does that mean your private-sector workers go along on the overseas mission?” Shadwick said.