CTV, Canada's aging fleet of Sea King helicopters are allowed to fly again, as long as they don't do it over unpaved surfaces, according to a statement from the Department of National Defence.
The fleet of 28 helicopters was ordered to stand down last week and not fly any non-critical flights when two Sea Kings lost power on two separate occasions while hovering.
The DND statement now says the helicopters can fly under certain conditions while investigators continue to probe why the Sea Kings lost power.
In addition to staying over paved surfaces, they are also forbidden from carrying out certain anti-submarine warfare operations.
“These pose the greatest risk to crew safety should a loss of power occur,” the statement released late Monday said.
Maj.-General Marc Dumais, Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, said the restrictions will not affect search and rescue, or medical evacuations.
“These precautions will ensure resumption of our routine flying, as well as many high priority and essential missions, while the technical investigation continues.”
Investigators began going over the Sea King's gear boxes last week. The boxes were both updated within the last five years and have about 30,000 flying hours combined. Officials say that means the helicopters' age probably didn't play a factor in the mechanical failure.
The first incident happened on Sept. 23, when a Sea King was practicing landings on the deck of the HMCS Iroquois. The helicopter fell more than a metre t the ship's deck when the power suddenly cut out. No one was injured.
Then last Monday, a Sea King was on a training exercise outside Halifax when it temporarily lost power.
Canada's 28 Sea Kings were purchased in the 1960s and have been plagued over the years by mechanical failures, parts shortages and crashes. There have been four fatal crashes that killed 10 people.
Every one hour of flight in a Sea King requires 30 hours of maintenance.
