Hercules CC-130J marks 5,000 hours with 436 Squadron

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Kate Everson

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EMC News -Quinte West - The crew of 436 Squadron was very proud to celebrate 5,000 hours on the Hercules-J model with a big cake at 10 Hangar.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Keiver said, "This is a remarkable achievement considering the first J model was delivered to 8 Wing just over a year ago."

He said the base now has 13 of a total 17 of the latest Hercules aircraft, with the final one to be delivered in May. Crews have been training in the United States to fly the modernized transport model, but will soon have a new simulator to save them time.

"The simulator is close to being up," Keiver said. "We should have it on by March."

He said crews have been flying to Mississippi in January for training. "That's not too hard to take," he laughed.

A pilot takes five to six months to be trained on the J model.

"By May we will have more airplanes than crew," he said.

He added that the 436 Squadron uses the J models exclusively, while the older Hercules are being used by 424 Search and Rescue Squadron.

"There are 32 C-130's still flying," he said. "There are no plans to convert to the J models."

Keiver said the 5,000 hours is a significant milestone and thanked the maintenance crews for keeping the aircraft in the air. He expected to mark 10,000 hours by the end of this year.

He asked Private Kirk Dennis, aviation technician, to cut the cake and helped serve it out to the rest of the crew, accompanied by Honourary Colonels Smylie and Quickert.

Keiver said he was flying the new Hercules when they passed the 5,000 mark somewhere between Florida and Alberta on February 3. He describes the aircraft as "like having a new car" and being incredibly reliable. It can also carry 20 per cent more cargo at 20 per cent less fuel.

"It's a significant improvement," he said. "We have stepped it up a notch."

Keiver said he enjoys flying in the cockpit where it is quieter and more comfortable than the older version. "I can concentrate on managing the mission instead of the airplane," he said.

Keiver said the aircraft is computerized to the degree that it has minute-by-minute management. "If something is not right, it goes ding ding!" he said with a smile.

However, he conceded that the back of the aircraft is not much different for any crew back there. "It's still long and dark," he said.

The Hercules-J has already been around the world, completing the tour after leaving Afghanistan for the last time last April. It has also been to Alert resupplying the Canadian Forces Station there. In March last year the aircraft was flying six of seven in support of forces in Libya and continues flights today out of Italy.

"The fleet is regularly flying six aircraft a day in support of both 436 and 426 Squadrons," he said. "Next year we will be flying 11 or 12 airplanes out of 17. We are growing."







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