Vanguard Magazine

14 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com interview Second Lieutenant Kenneth Huus Nielsen, a student pilot, and Captain Jesper Petersen, an instructor pilot, both from the Royal Danish Air Force, conduct a pre-flight inspection of a CT-156 Harvard II aircra at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, located at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. PHOTO: DND The CT-156 Harvard II is the "heart" of Royal Canadian Air Force pilot training. Aer completing their training on this turboprop trainer, students are selected for further training on multi-engine aircra, helicopters or fighter jets. PHOTO: DND Proposal (RFP) process open to the Quali- fied Suppliers. The potential value of the future contract has yet to be determined. Q How do you plan to maintain output during the transition between the cur- rent contracts (NFTC and CFTS) and FAcT, considering the limited number of instructors on the market and overlap of facilities? One of the tenets of the FAcT transition strategy is that the FAcT contractor will be expected to ramp up with minimal in- terference and interdependencies with the legacy contractors, including the use of instructors. The FAcT contractor will not have access to infrastructure being used to deliver NFTC and CFTS during transition as it will be in use by the incumbent con- tractors to deliver legacy training. All FAcT Qualified Suppliers must prepare their bids accordingly. The FAcT transition strategy will con- tinue to evolve as the program moves for- ward throughout the current and future phases. As other major capital projects have done in the past, the implementation of FAcT will leverage the creation of a pro- gram governance structure and the FAcT Training Implementation Working Group (TIWG). All FAcT stakeholders will have a voice at the TIWG to ensure a smooth implementation while the legacy programs continue to operate. Q What kind of aircra are we likely to see in Portage and Moose Jaw? The aircraft utilized in training will depend on the training solution proposed by the successful bidder. FAcT is not an aircraft acquisition program; rather, it is a training program. Aircraft – as much as ground- based training systems, courseware, and buildings – are all training aids whose role is to enable the production of winged aircrew. Q Are any of the current units or wings likely to close or move due to FAcT? RCAF has determined that the basing so- lution for the FAcT program will remain status quo at contract award in 2021. Ab-initio pilot training will be delivered in Moose Jaw and Southport. Ab-initio training for Air Combat Systems Officers and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators will be delivered in Winnipeg. Q Are we going to see more simula- tion and less actual flying? And what are some of the key capabilities Canada is looking for with FAcT? The FAcT program will increase the over- all amount of live flying and simulation for ab-initio Pilot, ACSO and AES Op train- ing as increased output of personnel will of necessity drive an increase in the flying rate. Additionally, fundamental to FAcT is the intent to incorporate training from the operational training units where it makes sense to do so. This will likewise increase both simulated and live-fly training lead- ing to Wings-standard. A comparison between the ratio of the current NFTC/CFTS programs and the FAcT program is not yet possible because the proposed training solutions from the Qualified Suppliers will differ in their ap- proach to live flying and simulation. The FAcT program will ensure that Pi- lots, ACSOs and AES Ops move on to their Operational Training Units with suf- ficient immersion in live flying and simula- tion to provide them with appropriate skill sets in their respective fields. The importance of a solid foundation in the air environment for ab-initio military aircrew is imperative to ensure that our future Aircraft Captains, Mission Com- manders and AES Op leads are appro- priately equipped with the right practical skills for operational service. To learn more about the FAcT program and the next steps, visit https://www. tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/amd-dp/air/ snac-nfps/ffpn-fact-eng.html.

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