Vanguard Magazine

Feb/Mar 2015

Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR

Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/476674

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 47

i inSide indUstRY 8 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 www.vanguardcanada.com CAE buys new stake in military pilot training Rousseau Metal of st-Jean-port-Joli, Quebec, is celebrating its 65th year in business. specializing in industrial stor- age systems, the Rousseau name has become synonymous with innovation, experience and durability. Founded in 1950, the company evolved in line with its customer base and cre- ates innovative products designed, man- ufactured and tested entirely in Canada. Constant investment in cutting edge technology, equipment, and research and development has allowed the com- pany to stand out and to increase its production to meet growing demand. in partnership with its network of distributors, who are specialists in Rousseau products, the company has earned substantial recognition in north America: first in industrial, in- stitutional, automotive, military and aerospace markets, and more recently in mining, healthcare and agricultural markets. Over the years, the company has up- graded its facilities and working prac- tices by focusing on human resources. it currently has more than 300 employ- ees who contribute to the excellence of its products. RouSSeau Metal celebrates 65th anniversary When Canada acquires its next generation of fighter jets, CAE aims to have a primary role in delivering the training system. On the opening day of the 2013 Paris Interna- tional Air Show, the Montreal-based company signed a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin that effectively made CAE the preferred provider of F-35 training support and systems integration in Canada should the gov- ernment select the Joint Strike Fighter. If the government opts for an alternative to the F-35, CAE is also positioning to have a key role as the training system lead for the program. So its recent decision to acquire the Military Aviation Training division of Bombardier, which includes responsibility for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program, is in keep- ing with its broader goals of delivering pan-Roy- al Canadian Air Force training solutions. As Mike Greenley, the company's vice presi- dent and general manager for military opera- tions, explained, CAE had been exploring op- portunities to collaborate with both Bombardier and Kelowna Aircraft for some time. Kelowna Aircraft is the prime contractor for Allied Wings, a consortium that operates the RCAF's Contract- ed Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program to provide primary flight training. "In our discussions with Bombardier it just became clear that there could be an opportu- nity...that would allow [Bombardier] to focus on building airplanes and would help us get some more tools in our kit to be able to focus on an integrated training system across the air force." The $19.8 million deal means CAE be- comes the prime con- tractor for the NFTC program, which operates out of Canadian Forces Bases Moose Jaw and Cold Lake and delivers a combination of basic, advanced, and lead-in fighter training as part of a comprehen- sive pilot training program. Best known as a training systems integra- tor, CAE already has a firm Canadian footprint with key simulation training centres in Trenton (Air Mobility Training Centre) and Petawawa (Tactical Aviation Training Centre). The addi- tion of Bombardier's training division, however, brings the company into the world of live mili- tary aircraft training support at a time when many allies are about to introduce so-called fifth generation fighter aircraft. (CAE has long had a strong presence in civilian live aircraft training.) "The NFTC program was always created to al- low allied nations to come and train in Canada," Greenley said, noting that countries from Den- mark, to the U.K., Singapore, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emir- ates have all sent student and instructor pilots at various times. Working with the government, that could be expanded, he said. The NFTC program provides classroom, com- puter-based and simulation training as well as live flying training on a fleet of Beechcraft T-6 (CT-156 Harvard) and BAE Systems Hawk (CT- 155 Hawk) aircraft. Equally enticing, however, are the export op- portunities. Bombardier's experienced team of over 200 employees represent a "world-class capability" with proven procedures and a prov- en curriculum at delivering both an ab initio fight training academy and live pilot training, Greenley said. "We tend to have a history of developing ca- pability in Canada in partnership with the RCAF

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

view archives of Vanguard Magazine - Feb/Mar 2015