Not really sure what you are so hot about here.
In government speak, "procurement process for the helicopters is well underway", and "on order" could be seen as very close to the same thing here.
Not that big of a deal IMO.
Platty: Hardly the "same thing". When an actual contract is not envisaged until the end of 2008, and with first delivery of an aircraft three years later, i.e. really late 2011 (Dec. 31 with luck), one can hardly say the equipment is "on order".
Would you describe to your friends (or spouse) a car, for which no deal has been signed, and that may not arrive for some four years, in that fashion? Please. Some order. Some aircraft. Words have meaning.
Mark
Ottawa
Actually, the contract for the helicopters would have already been signed were it not for the opposition decrieing the sole sourcing of it. The rpocurment process for military equipment is far too political in my view. The fact remains that the CH-47 is the best aircraft for the jobs and there still remains some corporate knowledge within the airforce, since we used to own some. In fact on the Dutch ones in Afghanistan, you can still see the CF markings that have been painted over.
Posted at 2008-01-29 12:01:44 [PermaLink]