Southern Hornets: The RCAF's participation in Exercise Cougar South - Skies Mag

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  June 5, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Security

  Canada launches AI project to manage BVLOS search and rescue operations

  Public Safety Canada has selected Kongsberg Geospatial, Larus Technologies and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association of Canada (CASARA) to integrate geospatial software, artificial intelligence, and machine vision software to help develop new methods for the use of drones in search and rescue operations in remote communities in Canada. The project will be funded by the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SARNIF) and has been dubbed OVERSEE – an acronym for “Optical Vision Enhancement and Refinement of Sensor Exploitation Effectiveness”. The OVERSEE project is intended to help address the unique challenges of conducting search and rescue operations in remote areas (such as indigenous communities in the Arctic and their immediate surrounding area) with UAS platforms. OVERSEE will initially employ available search and rescue statistics from the Department of National Defence, CASARA, Transport Canada and other agencies and execute simulations driven by Artificial Intelligence. The AI will use Deep Learning techniques to investigate how BVLOS regulation effects SAR efforts that make use of drones, and how drones have been integrated most effectively in search and rescue operations, particularly for isolated indigenous communities in Canada's North that don't have quick access to Aeronautical search and rescue assets. Ultimately the goal of this research is to help CASARA members and GSAR (Ground Search and Rescue) workers use BVLOS drones more effectively in search and rescue operations. Kongsberg Geospatial will be leading the project, contributing their expertise in precision mapping, Air Traffic Management, and the development of multi-vehicle UAS control stations for BVLOS missions to help develop tools and procedures for the safe, effective use of drones for search and rescue missions in remote areas. They will also be contributing tools and training for machine vision techniques. Larus Technologies specializes in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems for defence applications, and will be contributing their Total::Perception™ simulation engine and Total::Vision™ computer vision technology to the project. CASARA will be helping to gather drone video from training exercises throughout Canada in cooperation with its volunteers, as well as search and rescue event statistics from community organizations. Upon completion of the project, CASARA membership will help to circulate the SOPs derived from the project to their membership of Civil Air Search and Rescue workers and volunteers across Canada to ensure that everyone has access to the improved UAS SAR guidance. While the project is primarily funded through Public Safety Canada's SARNIF fund, all three partners will be making in-kind contributions in software licenses, technology, and professional services. The OVERSEE project is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. https://www.unmannedairspace.info/latest-news-and-information/canada-launches-ai-drone-project-to-find-ways-to-effectively-manage-bvlos-search-and-rescue-operations/

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  September 24, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  FAA inks aviation agreements with Canada and Brazil

  Federal Aviation Administration Press Release he Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed separate agreements with Brazil's Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) that will make it easier to approve each country's aircraft and aviation products for their growing aviation markets. The FAA and TCCA are continuing their long tradition of cooperation. The two agencies signed a shared surveillance management plan that defines the process by which they recognize each other's surveillance of manufacturers and their suppliers in the United States and Canada. The Plan ensures manufacturers, certificate holders, production approval holders and suppliers are complying with the responsible countries' applicable regulatory requirements. The plan requires manufacturers to comply with an approved quality system and ensure their subcontractors and suppliers also meet the applicable requirements and adhere to quality standards The result will be less need for FAA and TCCA aviation inspectors to travel to each other's facilities to do surveillance. Previously this was done on a case-by-case basis. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/faa-inks-aviation-agreements-with-canada-and-brazil

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  October 3, 2022 | Local, Land

  Government of Canada awards support services contract for Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, Nunavut

  October 3, 2022 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Following a fair, open and transparent competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, has awarded a $122 million contract (including taxes) to Nasittuq Corporation, from Ottawa, Ontario, to provide support services to CFS Alert in Nunavut for an initial period of eight-and-a-half years. CFS Alert is a military station located in Nunavut on the north-eastern tip of Ellesmere Island, the northernmost island of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. CFS Alert maintains signals intelligence facilities to support Canadian military operations and plays a key role in projecting Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. Environment and Climate Change Canada operates a weather station in CFS Alert, though the station is a closed military facility not open to public access or use. The contract with Nasittuq Corporation covers all site support services for CFS Alert, including accommodations, food services, maintenance and operation of grounds and roads (including runway), power plants, buildings, generators, water and sewage treatment systems, fire alarm systems, fuel storage tanks, and a quarry operation. Nasittuq Corporation will also provide maintenance and extensive repair work of some of the 90 buildings on the station – including 19 major structures. The services provided through this contract will help provide personnel with well-maintained workplaces that support effective base operations, and the necessary capability to live and work in the Arctic environment. The Canadian Content Policy and Canada's obligations under the Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements including the recent Treasury Board of Canada issued Directive on Government Contracts in the Nunavut Settlement Area are being applied to this contract. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/10/government-of-canada-awards-support-services-contract-for-canadian-forces-station-cfs-alert-nunavut.html