Canada's aging Air Force

Only half of the surveillance aircraft and rescue helicopters designated to guard Canada's coastline are able to report for duty on any given day.

And that is troubling defence critics, who wonder how the country would cope with an unforeseen disaster.

Figures laid before the Senate security and defence committee show the air force is only able to muster nine out of its 20 CP-140 aging maritime patrol aircraft for surveillance of the country's three coast lines. Exactly half _ seven-out-of-14 _ of the relatively new CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters can be called upon for duty.

Read more