December 16, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
Two senior officers from the New York Air National Guard of the United States Air Force visited Winnipeg, Man., on Nov. 19 and 20, 2019, as part of the first official 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (1 CAD/CANR) Arctic Airpower Seminar.
Col Michele Kilgore and Col Clifford Souza, commanders of the 109th Airlift Wing and 109th Operations Group respectively, engaged in discussions with a diverse group of operators, specialists and advisors to talk about training and operational opportunities that would benefit the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and its United States Air Force (USAF) allied partners.
BGen Ed “Hertz” Vaughan, deputy commander of CANR and deputy Combined/Joint Forces Air Component commander for 1 CAD/CANR, hosted the two-day seminar.
A partnership last September between the RCAF and the 109th Airlift Wing executing Operation Boxtop, the mission to bring supplies to Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut, prompted him to invite members of the 109th Airlift Wing to the seminar to exchange information on processes and objectives.
“The Arctic is critically important to the security and defence of North America, and our ability to survive and operate in the Arctic domain are essential parts of our daily mission at 1 CAD/CANR,” said Vaughan. “We established this series of seminars to help build relationships and deep dive into the specific of polar logistics and sustainment. Forging partnerships across Arctic communities, mission stakeholders, and allied forces are requirements for success.”
The RCAF is no stranger to bi-national operations. Every day, military personnel and defence team members from Canada and the United States work together to protect and defend North American airspace through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) mission.
Comprising more than 40 per cent of Canada's land mass (and 75 per cent of Canada's coastline) with about 120,000 inhabitants, the Arctic is undergoing significant change. Retreating ice cover is opening the way for increased shipping, tourism, and resource exploration, increasing interest in the region.
Following the presentations and discussion sessions, seminar attendees visited with members of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, a unit that routinely deploys north in support of Canada's NORAD and search and rescue commitments, to learn more about the role they play in the daily delivery of air power in the North.
“The Arctic can be a complex, harsh and unforgiving location to operate in if one isn't prepared to face its challenges,” said Vaughan. “These seminars permit us to learn from our partners and allies as we continue developing the skills, technology, and relationships to work effectively in a polar environment. I look forward to our next seminar in Yellowknife, focused on energy security at remote locations, and many more seminars to come. “
https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/canadian-norad-region-hosts-first-arctic-airpower-seminar
January 17, 2024 | Local, Naval
The project budget for the two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships is now $2.1 billion, up from a previous estimate of $1.6 billion.
November 10, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, C4ISR
By: David Pugliese VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Royal Canadian Air Force plans to combine two training programs under a single, multibillion-dollar project, a move that will lead to incumbent contractors CAE and a consortium led by KF Aerospace facing off against a series of large firms. The government plans to issue a call for bids from defense companies next year for the Future Aircrew Training program, or FAcT. A draft bid package is expected to be released by the end of the year so prequalified firms can provide feedback to the Canadian Armed Forces. The contract is estimated to be worth at least CA$5 billion (U.S. $3.75 billion) and will provide training for Air Force pilots and crew for 20 years. Canada plans to award the contract in 2023. The government has already approved a list of firms that will be authorized to bid on FAcT, including Babcock Canada, Leonardo Canada, Lockheed Martin Canada and SkyAlyne Canada. SkyAlyne is a partnership between major Canadian defense firms CAE and KF Aerospace. Those two companies currently provide the two main aircrew training programs to the Air Force. Under FAcT, the number of pilots trained annually will slightly increase. The pilot production numbers for FAcT are expected to range from about 105 to a maximum of 120. In addition, air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators will also be trained under the program. Currently, that training is done in-house by the service. “We're very focused on getting this to contract,” Air Force Col. Pete Saunders, director of air simulation and training, said of FAcT. “In the end, the foundation of the Air Force is our ability to generate qualified aviators. That is what FAcT is all about.” Consolidation FAcT will combine two existing training programs. The first, NATO Flying Training in Canada, is provided by CAE's military aviation training division, which operates out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The program offers undergraduate and postgraduate pilot training in military-controlled airspace using training aircraft with advanced glass cockpits. That contact ends in 2023. The second program is the Contracted Flying Training and Support, which is run by a KF Aerospace-led consortium. Training is conducted out of the Southport Aerospace Centre near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The program “oversees the flying training and support services contract for the Primary and Basic Flying Training, Multi-Engine and Helicopter pilot training programs,” according to the government. That contract ends in 2027. Training for Royal Canadian Air Force pilots involves various fixed-wing aircraft — including the Grob 120A, CT-156 Harvard II, CT-155 Hawk and King Air C90 — as well as Bell 206 and 412 helicopters. Air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators are trained on CT-142 Dash-8 planes. Simulation is also extensively used in aircrew training. Saunders said the Air Force is being as flexible as possible to allow industry competitors to come up with what they believe will be the best solution for the service's training needs. “The way we're approaching this is that it is up to them to determine what training aids are required,” he explained. “They will determine what is the appropriate mix of simulation and live fly. They will look at the number and type of aircraft they require in order to meet their training solution.” However, officials are leaving no room for flexibility in the training's outcome. “What we are being prescriptive about is the standard that a graduate has to achieve,” Saunders said. The service has cooperated with the qualified bidders, consulting with them on components of what will be in the FAcT bid package — essentially the request for proposals. Saunders said he hopes to release the RFP by mid-2021. Apart from providing training and maintenance, the winning bidder must revitalize the aging training infrastructure, he added. The Air Force expects the construction of a new training center for air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators, as the current facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is quite old. Other new infrastructure, such as hangars, will also likely be built. Officials are requiring the winning supplier to invest in Canada equal to the value of the contract, but the government is also focused on a winning bid that emphasizes domestic firms playing a major role in training, simulation and in-service support. The government also has an ongoing competition for the acquisition of a new fighter jet to replace the Air Force's fleet of CF-18 aircraft. Canada isn't expected to announce the winning bid until at least 2022, with deliveries of aircraft scheduled for 2025. But Saunders said training for that future aircraft will be separate from FAcT, as the requirements are set by a different Air Force program office. https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2020/11/09/for-canada-multibillion-dollar-training-program-is-the-fact-of-the-matter/
August 24, 2020 | Local, Aerospace
By Wings Staff SkyAlyne Canada LP, a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace, introduced an expanded team of subcontractors to pursue the Royal Canadian Air Force's contract for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, the military pilot and aircrew training program under the Government of Canada's ongoing, generational Strong, Secure Engaged investment plan. SkyAlyne is one of four qualified suppliers bidding for the FAcT contract, along with Babcock Canada Inc., Leonardo Canada, and Lockheed Martin Canada Inc. With a contract award date expected to come in 2023, FAcT combines all Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot training with aircrew support training. Canadian-based companies ATCO Frontec, Bluedrop Training and Simulation, Canadian Base Operators, Canadian Helicopters, SERCO Canada and PAL Aerospace are joining SkyAlyne's FAcT bid. SkyAlyne describes PAL Aerospace as a notable new addition to the team given its experience in airborne surveillance and intelligence operations, sensor operator training, mission systems development and aircraft modification capabilities. The newly expanded SkyAlyne team collectively employs more than 14,000 Canadians and operates in every region of Canada. “Our goal is to work with the Royal Canadian Air Force to continue providing a world-class aircrew training program built by Canadians for Canadians,” said Tracy Medve, board chair of SkyAlyne. “These partnerships will strengthen SkyAlyne's position and help us move towards our objective to retain this crucial military capability in Canada.” SkyAlyne states it is the only Canadian-founded and Canadian-based qualified supplier competing for the FAcT program. Its parent companies, CAE and KF Aerospace, currently deliver all phases of pilot training for the RCAF through the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program based in Moose Jaw, SK, and Cold Lake, AB, as well as the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program based in Southport, MB. The new subcontractors added to the SkyAlyne team also hold extensive experience working with the RCAF, with most also currently supporting the NFTC and CFTS programs. “This agreement further ensures that the FAcT program benefits from the very latest Canadian expertise and innovation in aircrew training,” says France Hébert, president, SkyAlyne. “If selected, SkyAlyne will train the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force airwomen and airmen while helping grow Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as local and Indigenous communities. The selection of the SkyAlyne team would be a win-win for the Royal Canadian Air Force and for the Canadian aerospace industry.” https://www.wingsmagazine.com/skyalyne-expands-team-for-future-aircrew-training-bid/