(Above  Left-Right) CC-115 Buffalo, CC-138 Twin Otter, CC-130 Hercules (DND Combat Camera Photo) Above we have the Existing Fixed Wing SAR Fleet. The Buffalo and Twin Otter are both DeHavilland Canada Designs, and the C130 is built by Lockheed.

The RCAF currently designates 13 CC130H Hercules and six CC115 Buffalo aircraft for FWSAR response. The Hercules operate from CFBs Greenwood, Trenton, and Winnipeg, while the Buffalos are all based at CFB Comox.  Of these, the six Buffalos and the Hercules at Greenwood and Trenton are dedicated to SAR. The Buffalos have been in service since the 1960s, while many of the Hercules date from the1970s, and all are now approaching the end of their effective service lives. The RCAF Twin Otters are currently based in Yellowknife.

its worth noting that canada currently has two Models of C130 –  H and J. the J models are current and are used for transport. the Older H models are dedicated to SAR.

The Contenders:

Dash-8 with Field Air Operable Door

The Dash8, is also a DeHavilland Canada design though now built by Bombardier and marketed as the Q400. The Stock aircraft is modified for SAR use by Field Aviation, and includes an air operable side  doors. it has the longest range after the C130, is built in Canada, and the modification is in use with 29 Aircraft already in service. Transport Canada’s Arial surveillance program uses Dash-8 -100 aircraft, so the type is quite Familiar to Canadian’s (Porter and Westjet Encore also use the type exclusively)

The above Photo shows a Swedish plane, prior to delivery, still with Canadian Registration.

Airbus Military C295

Viewed from the onset as the favorite by DND, This Italian aircraft began as the Fiat g.222 and was updated in partnership with Lockheed. One benefit is that the C-27J is in many ways compatible with a C130. It is the Fastest, and has the longest range, but it is also the heaviest, limiting use on northern airstrips, and features poor low speed performance. It should be noted that the Italians don’t use the aircraft for FWSAR, Favoring much smaller aircraft, and leaning towards a variant of the ATR-42 commuter plane, a contemporary of the Q400.

Viking Air DHC-5NG Buffalo

Viking Air Purchased the type certificates for All Dehavilland Canada Aircraft except the Dash-8. The DHC-5NG is a proposed new production run of the Same aircraft to be replaced. the aircraft would be outfitted with modern systems and electronics, however the airframe would remain the same. Viking recently re-launched Twin Otter Production, with a modernized airframe and has had good success with it. The Buffalo is certainly suited to the Job – It performs it currently, and the aircraft is light, and has good slow speed performance. Its not pressurized however, so Altitude is Limited.

The Original development of the Buffalo occurred at the same period as the g.222, predecessor of the C27J