CH-148 Cyclone

Overview

The CH-148 Cyclone is one of the most capable maritime helicopters in the world. It is Canada’s main ship-borne maritime helicopter, and it provides air support to the Royal Canadian Navy.

The Cyclone can be used for surface and sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue missions, tactical transport and more. It can operate during the day or night and in most weather conditions to support missions in Canada and around the world.

Length 17.22 m
Length (folded configuration) 14.78 m
Rotor span 17.48 m
Height 5.44 m
Maximum Gross Weight 13,000 kg
Maximum speed 287 km/h
Range 740 km
Location(s)
  • Patricia Bay, B.C.
  • Shearwater, N.S.

During the aircraft acceptance check for aircraft CH148805, avionics technicians inspected the #1 Power Distribution Unit as per the Fleet Work Instructions. Terminal wire lugs T1, T2 & T3 were found unsecured. A Foreign Object Damage (FOD) check was carried out and all missing hardware for T1 lug was located just below in its cover panel. The preventive measures recommend a publication amendment, and a design change to prevent the nuts at the terminal connections from backing off when subjected to vibrations.
May 13, 2021

The aircrew were tasked as part of Operation REASSURANCE to conduct a routine surface reconnaissance mission in the Ionian Sea followed by flight deck evolutions for aircrew proficiency upon recovery to HMCS Fredericton. During this final complex manoeuvring turn to close with the ship, the aircraft did not respond as the crew would have anticipated. This event occurred at a low altitude, was unrecoverable and the aircraft entered a high energy descent and impacted the water astern the ship. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were fatally injured.
May 11, 2021

On the one-year anniversary of the Stalker 22 Cyclone helicopter crash, HMCS Calgary’s embarked Cyclone air detachment hosted a solemn ceremony for the ship’s company on the flight deck in honor of the six members who lost their lives.
April 29, 2021

Captain Kevin Hagen will arrive home in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, June 27.
June 25, 2020

Captain Brenden MacDonald, Captain Maxime Miron-Morin, Sub-Lieutenant Matthew Pyke, and Master Corporal Matthew Cousins will arrive home in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, on Thursday, June 25.
June 24, 2020

On June 18, 2020, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario identified the remains of four of the six Canadian Armed Forces members killed in the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash of April 29.
June 22, 2020

The Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, Lieutenant-General Alain Pelletier, has lifted the operational pause on the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter fleet.
June 16, 2020

On June 8, 2020, the Department of National Defence’s Airworthiness Investigative Authority issued its From the Investigator report in relation to the accident involving a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on Wednesday, 29 April 2020.
June 8, 2020

On April 29, 2020, six members of the Canadian Armed Forces were killed when a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crashed while conducting maritime surveillance operations.
June 1, 2020

In the early morning of May 27, 2020, a combined Canadian Armed Forces and United States Navy search and recovery team arrived at the CH-148 Cyclone crash site, which is approximately 220 nautical miles east of Catania, Sicily.
May 28, 2020

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