Vanguard Magazine

trAininG www.vanguardcanada.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 21 TRAINING Two CT-155 Hawks in formation, training aircra flown by 419 Squadron, Tactical Fighter Training School in Cold Lake, Alberta. Photo by 4 Wing Imaging, Corporal Robert Bottrill American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). To satisfy these commitments, the CAF needs modern equipment and a full complement of personnel. A Canadian Press article from Septem- ber 2018 pointed out that the RCAF "is contending with a shortage of around 275 pilots and needs more mechanics, sensor operators and other trained personnel as well in the face of increasing demands to conduct and support domestic and inter- national missions." It is, therefore, no secret that the RCAF lacks the required number of trained pilots to meet its operational commit- ments. The same point was also brought out recently by the Auditor General of Canada in his 2018 Fall Reports to the Parliament of Canada, which states that "National Defence needs an effec- tive fighter force, which means capable aircraft and personnel." The report re- vealed that the RCAF had only 64 per cent of the trained CF-18 pilots during the last fiscal year. This shortage is a grave concern, not just for the CAF and Canadians but also for our Allies. To meet its NORAD and NATO com- mitments simultaneously, Canada needs its full complement of aircraft and per- sonnel to be available daily. To solve the latter, the Auditor General recommends, "National Defence should develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies for fighter force technicians and pilots that are designed to meet opera- tional requirements and prepare for the transition to the replacement fleet." This is a critical inadequacy in Canada's National Defence. So, what is Canada's current system to produce qualified pilots? Does it have the capacity to produce more pilots? And what exactly is being done to- day to help fill this shortage? two training Schools Qualifying as a trained RCAF pilot, a student must undergo training at two different training schools in Canada: 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (2CFFTS) and 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3CFFTS). Independent contractors from the defence industry operate the facilities and services at these two schools. As the prime contractor of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC), CAE is responsible for all support aspects at the school and providing the CT-156 Harvard II turboprop and CT-155 Hawk advanced jet trainer, which are leased from the Government of Canada, but maintained and serviced by CAE.

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