The CH-149 Cormorant is a long-range helicopter dedicated to search and rescue. It can operate in severe conditions, making it ideal for Canada's challenging geography and climate.
The Cormorant can carry up to 12 stretchers or a load of 5,000 kilograms. Its advanced systems provide a stable hover for critical hoisting operations. It has helped rescue mountain climbers, lost hikers, ship crews and more. RCAF Web Pages
CH-149 Cormorant Kestrel Publications
last update: 2021-11-27 13:46:17Known Squadron Assignments: ;442
Used for company trails in Italy, flying over 100 hours. Left Vergiate on 12 March 2002 for ferry flight to Canada. Used for cold weather and icing trials at Goose Bay in March and April 2002. To No. 442 (T & R) Squadron, CFB Comox, BC, on 3 May 2002. Declared operational August 2002. Reached 1,000 airframe hours on 8 March 2004. Still with this unit in October 2005. Several occurances of sheared bolts in the number 3 engine torque tube on this aicraft, in 2004 and 2005. Still at Comox in summer of 2010, when it was reported to be the highest flight time EH 101 in the world.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442;413
With No. 442 (TR) Squadron at CFB Comox, BC, delivered 7 February 2002, stil there in October 2005. Category C damage at Comox on 14 October 2008, chips in main gear box. With No. 413 Sqn in Greenwood, NS in 2013.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442;413
Used for manufacturer's trials. Passed through Newcastle, UK on 4 July 2002 on ferry flight to Canada. Arrived at CFB Gander on 8 July 2002. First used by No. 442 Squadron, CFB Comox, BC. With No. 413 Squadorn when it visited Sydney, NS in March 2009.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442
No. 442 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Comox, BC. Ferried from Italy, passed through Keflavik, Iceland October 2001. Delivered to Comox on 20 October 2001. Formally handed over to unit on 30 October 2001, by Minister of Defense Art Eggleton. Still with this unit in October 2005. Reached 2,000 flight hours on 9 August 2006, first EH 101 to reach this time. Still with this unit on 18 August 2007, when it rescued survivors of a Cessna 172 crash near Squamish, BC and transported them directly to Vancouver General Hospital. Joint training exercise with US Coast Guard at Cape Disappointment, Washington in January 2012. On static display at Abbotsford air show in August 2015, with No. 442 Squadron.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442;424;413
To No. 442 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Comox, BC. Ferried from Italy, passed through Keflavik, Iceland October 2001. Delivered to Comox on 20 October 2001. Transferred to No. 424 (T&R) in Trenton, ON in 2005. Reported dismantled at CFB Trenton in August 2009, probably undergoing maintenance. With No. 413 Sqn in Greenwood, NS in 2015.Known Squadron Assignments: ;103;442
Arrived at CFB Gander in July 2002. With No. 103 (S&R) Squadron at CFB Gander, Newfoundland. With No. 442 Squadron at CFB Comox, BC in January 2009. Still with this unit when it took part in SAR training exercise at Esquilmault, BC in October 2012.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442
To No. 442 (T&R) Squadron, CFB Comox, BC. Arrived at Comox on 7 February 2002. Still there 2006, when it was investigated for unusual tail rotor vibrations.Known Squadron Assignments: ;103;413
Passed through Newcastle, UK on 4 July 2002 on ferry flight to Canada. With No. 103 (S&R) Squadron at CFB Gander, Newfoundland. Arrived at Gander on 8 July 2002. Category D damage on 20 September 2004, when both rescue hoists failed during a rescue at Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Switched to outboard hoist following failure in inboard hoist, then cable on both hoists cut when hoist operator lost sight of tech on water. Rescue completed with basket attached to rope on cargo hook. Cracks discovered in tail rotor hub in October 2004, leading to fleet wide operating restrictions.Known Squadron Assignments: ;413;442
With No. 413 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS. Arrived at Greenwood on 24 August 2002. With No. 442 (TR) Squadron at CFB Comox, BC by summer of 2007.Known Squadron Assignments: ;413;103
With No. 413 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS, in 2016, shortly after delivery. With No. 103 (S&R) Squadron at Goose Bay, Newfoundland in late 2013.Known Squadron Assignments: ;413;442
With No. 413 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS. With 442 (T&R) Sqn in Comox, BC in 2014.Known Squadron Assignments: ;442;413;103
With No. 442 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Comox, BC in October 2005. With No. 413 Squadron on east coast in September 2009, when it carried out joint training exercise with US Coast Guard vessel, near Lunenburg. With No. 103 Squadron in September 2009. Still with this Squadron when it rescued crew from fishing vessel Seafaring Legend on 24 October 2009, in severe weather conditions, 40 miles north of Fogo Island. Crew received 2010 Cormorant Trophy from Agusta Westland for this rescue. Still with 103 Squadron when a different crew won the 2013 Cormorant Trophy and the Prince Phillip Helicopter Rescue Award for the 3 February 2013 rescue of three hunters stranded on an ice floe off Newfoundland, in extremely poor weather (80 km/hr winds, heavy snow and icing).Known Squadron Assignments: ;413;424;103
Passed through Yeovil, UK on 6 May 2003 on ferry flight to Canada. At Newcastle, UK on 10 May 2003. First delivered to No. 413 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS. Operated by No. 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario in October 2005. Based at CFB Gander, Newfoundland by June 2006, with No. 103 (S&R) Squadron. With 413 Squadron at Greenwood in November 2013.Known Squadron Assignments: ;413;103
Passed through Yeovil, UK on 6 May 2003 on ferry flight to Canada. At Newcastle, UK on 10 May 2003. Served with No 103 (S&R) Sqn, dates unknown. First delivered to No. 413 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Greenwood, NS. Destroyed in a crash during night training off Canso, NS on 13 July 2006. "Tusker 914" was destroyed in a crash during night training off Canso, NS on July 13, 2006. Aircraft was attempting a go around from a high hover near a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel, the Four Sisters No. 1, when it struck the water in a nose low attitude at approximately 30 to 50 knots. First CF CH-149 Cormorant loss, and first fatalities. Two FEs and a SAR Tech in rear killed, 4 other crew were injured. Flight Sergeant Duane Brazil, MCpl Kirk Noel and Cpl Trevor McDavid perished. The survivors included Flight Sergeant Martin Molony, Capt Ronald Busch, Capt Gabriel Ringuette and Maj Gordon Ireland. At the time of the accident #149914 had accumulated 1,139.3 rotor hours.Known Squadron Assignments: ;424;413;103(R)
Ferried to Canada in July 2003, passing through Norway, Holland, Belgium, Scotland and Ireland. First operated by No. 424 (T&R) Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario. Transferred in late 2005 to No. 413 (T&R) Sqn in Greenwood, NS. With No. 103 (R) Squadron by 2007. Category C damage on 16 October 2008 near Gander, main roter blades contacted trees during night confined area training. Still with this unit when it rescued two hunters, two surviving SAR Techs and one deceased SAR Tech from ice floes off Igloolik, Nunavut at dusk on 27 October 2011. Crew flew 2,780 km with three fuel stops from Gander, made rescues in 90 km/hr winds and 10 metre waves. Survivors delivered to Igloolik 18 hours after the helicopter had departed Gander. Crew received 2012 Cormorant Trophy and the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) Guild Award for Gallantry for this mission.