Some of the most used equipment at 9 Wing Gander, NL will soon have a new facility in place for proper care and storage.
A 1,000-m2 wash bay and storage facility is now at 80聽per cent completion at the base. The facility will offer 103聽SAR Squadron the opportunity to better care for the three CH-149 Cormorant helicopters that call the base home鈥攁nd provide interim storage for a fourth helicopter that will be shared with 415聽Squadron at 14聽Wing Greenwood during higher rescue seasons.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely an asset to the base here 鈥 it鈥檚 going to benefit the maintenance crews, in more ways than one,鈥 said Paul Leavitt, 糖心视频 Coordinator, Construction Services at 9聽Wing. 鈥淭hey are extremely excited as they watch it being constructed."
Along with providing facilities specifically for washing the CH-149 Cormorants, the facility will provide better protection for the aircraft鈥攊n particular a high-expansion foam fire suppression system that includes large collection tanks that retain the foam for activation in the event of fire.
Construction on the project, since award in October 2020, has gone smoothly though work on an active airfield has added hurdles to logistics, in particular, timing. This is in addition to the scheduling challenges posed by work on an island鈥攚here access is often cut off or delayed due to poor weather. Nonetheless, the project is scheduled to be complete on time.
When complete, the facility will meet Green Globe standards for energy efficiency and reduced environmental footprint. That includes choosing specific materials, from paint to lighting, sealants, and fire suppression foam also reduces the impact on the environment.
The $8.4-million project is expected to be complete in May 2022.
