The
BellBell Helicopter Textron is an American helicopter and tiltrotor manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. A division of Textron, Bell manufactures military helicopter and tiltrotor products in and around Fort Worth, as well as in Amarillo, Texas, and commercial rotorcraft products in...
CH-146 Griffon is the
Canadian militaryCanadian Forces Air Command , also known as the Canadian Air Force, is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. AIRCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Air Force , which was Canada's air force from its foundation in 1924 until February 1, 1968...
variant of the
Bell 412EPThe Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a further development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
, a multi-use utility
helicopterA helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades. Helicopters are classified as rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from fixed-wing aircraft because the helicopter achieves lift with the...
. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks.
The Griffon was built at
Mirabel, QuebecMirabel is a city in Quebec, Canada. It is an off-island suburb north-west of Montreal.Mirabel is also the name of a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Mirabel. Its geographical code is 74.Mirabel's population was...
, at the Bell Canadian plant. They were delivered between 1995 and 1997 in one of two configurations, the Combat Support Squadron (CSS) version for
search and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.-Definitions of Search and Rescue:There are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved....
missions, and the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter (UTTH), which carries a crew of three and an eight-man
sectionA section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad-sized unit of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
.
The Griffon can be equipped with various specialized bolt-on mission kits, which can enhance the performance of the Griffon, from increasing range, improving protection against enemy fire, etc.
While the CH-146 can be equipped with a total of 13 seats, accommodating three crew and ten passengers, weight restrictions usually result in a normal combat load of eight equipped troops or fewer depending on armament and fuel carried.
The
BellBell Helicopter Textron is an American helicopter and tiltrotor manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. A division of Textron, Bell manufactures military helicopter and tiltrotor products in and around Fort Worth, as well as in Amarillo, Texas, and commercial rotorcraft products in...
CH-146 Griffon is the
Canadian militaryCanadian Forces Air Command , also known as the Canadian Air Force, is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. AIRCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Air Force , which was Canada's air force from its foundation in 1924 until February 1, 1968...
variant of the
Bell 412EPThe Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a further development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
, a multi-use utility
helicopterA helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades. Helicopters are classified as rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from fixed-wing aircraft because the helicopter achieves lift with the...
. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks.
Design and development
The Griffon was built at
Mirabel, QuebecMirabel is a city in Quebec, Canada. It is an off-island suburb north-west of Montreal.Mirabel is also the name of a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Mirabel. Its geographical code is 74.Mirabel's population was...
, at the Bell Canadian plant. They were delivered between 1995 and 1997 in one of two configurations, the Combat Support Squadron (CSS) version for
search and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.-Definitions of Search and Rescue:There are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved....
missions, and the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter (UTTH), which carries a crew of three and an eight-man
sectionA section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad-sized unit of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
.
The Griffon can be equipped with various specialized bolt-on mission kits, which can enhance the performance of the Griffon, from increasing range, improving protection against enemy fire, etc.
While the CH-146 can be equipped with a total of 13 seats, accommodating three crew and ten passengers, weight restrictions usually result in a normal combat load of eight equipped troops or fewer depending on armament and fuel carried. The aircraft can also be configured for up to six stretchers.
Minor disassembly permits transport of the Griffon by
CC130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft...
or C-17 aircraft for long-distance deployment.
Operational history
The Canadian Forces originally purchased 100 aircraft and, in 2008, 85 of these remain in CF service. The remaining aircraft are employed at:
Tactical Helicopter role
- 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
No. 400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of CFB Borden. The squadron currently operates the CH-146 Griffon.-History:...
- CFB BordenCanadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
- 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron - CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.-Construction of the base:...
- 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron - CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces Base located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks".-History:...
- 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron - CFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
- 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron - CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is located 25 km north of Quebec City and is home to 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.- Origins :...
- 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
No. 438 "City of Montreal" Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force . The squadron is based at CFB St. Hubert, Quebec...
- St-Hubert, Quebec
Search and RescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.-Definitions of Search and Rescue:There are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved....
role
- 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron
No. 424 Squadron RCAF or 424 Squadron is a search and rescue/transport Squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of Hangar # 9 with the 8 Wing at CFB Trenton.-History:...
- 8 Wing TrentonCanadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
Combat Support Squadrons
- 417 Combat Support Squadron
No. 417 Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.-History:...
- 4 Wing CFB Cold LakeCanadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located adjacent to the city of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
- 439 Combat Support Squadron - 3 Wing CFB Bagotville
Canadian Forces Base Bagotville , commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, is a Canadian Forces Base located west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay, Quebec. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet...
- 444 Combat Support Squadron - 5 Wing CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
In 2005 nine CH-146s were sold to the
Allied WingsAllied Wings Limited Partnership operates the Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre located in Southport, Manitoba.The 22 year contract was announced on 30 March 2005 by the Minister of National Defence and will provide flying training support at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.Through the...
consortium to be used as trainers at
3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School is located at the Southport Aerospace Centre just south of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada....
.
On 26 November 2008, the Canadian Forces issued a statement announcinging that 8 Griffons would be modified to act as armed escorts for
CH-147 ChinookThe Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots was faster than utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s and even many of today. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply...
helicopters in
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
. Equipped with a
M134DThe Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
mini gun, the helicopters are employed in a defensive and support role, including the evacuation of battlefield casualties. The six CH-146s arrived at Kandahar International Airport on 20 December 2008.
Suitability for role
The CH-146 was purchased by the CF to replace four existing helicopters, the
CH-136 KiowaThe Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S....
in the observation role, the
CH-135 Twin HueyThe Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter that first flew in April, 1969. The UH-1N has a fifteen seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo configuration the UH-1N has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ . An external load of 5,000 lb can be carried by the...
in the army tactical role, the
CH-118 IroquoisThe UH-1 Iroquois is a multipurpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam War. It is commonly known as the "Huey"....
in the base rescue role and the heavy lift
CH-147 ChinookThe Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots was faster than utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s and even many of today. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply...
. From the time of its purchase defence analysts have been critical of the aircraft pointing to its procurement as politically motivated and that the aircraft cannot adequately fill any of its intended roles. It has been termed "a civilian designed and built aircraft, with only a coat of green paint."
Writing in 2006 defence analyst Sharon Hobson said:
The CH-146 was ruled out for the Afghan mission by General
Rick HillierGeneral Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4 2005 to July 1 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk. He is also the highest...
when he was Chief of Defence Staff in 2008 due to being underpowered. It has also been criticised for being underpowered by Martin Shadwick, a defence analyst and professor at
York UniversityYork University is a university located in Toronto, Ontario. It is Canada's third-largest university and has produced several of the country's top leaders across the humanities and in sciences such as chemistry, meteorology and space science....
. Shadwick stated in July 2009:
Retired LGen Lou Cuppens defended the aircraft's performance:
Defence Minister
Peter MacKayPeter Gordon MacKay, PC, QC, MP is a lawyer and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for Central Nova and currently serves as Minister of National Defence in the Cabinet of Canada....
also defended the aircraft:
Accidents and incidents
- On 18 July 2002, a CH-146 operated by 444 Sqn, crashed north of CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
while returning from a search and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.-Definitions of Search and Rescue:There are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved....
mission that had been called off. Both pilots were killed on impact and the SAR Technician and Flight Engineer were both seriously injured. The cause of the crash was the loss of the aircraft tail rotor after a tail rotor blade failed from fatigue.
- On 6 July 2009, a CH-146 crashed about 80 kilometres northeast of Kandahar city killed two Canadian soldiers, along with a British soldier from the Royal Engineers. Three other Canadians were hurt. The crash was an accident due to the pilot's loss of visual reference in recirculating dust and not due to enemy action.
Specifications (CH-146)
See also
External links