22 octobre 2019 | Local, Aérospatial
JEAN-FRANÇOIS CODÈRE
L'armée de l'air américaine a choisi vendredi sept entreprises, dont la montréalaise Top Aces, pour venir « jouer les méchants » lors de ses entraînements. Le contrat pourrait permettre à Top Aces de doubler sa taille et devrait confirmer qu'elle deviendra bientôt le premier opérateur privé au monde d'avions de chasse F-16.
Fondée il y a 15 ans par trois anciens pilotes de chasse canadiens, Top Aces offre aujourd'hui aux armées canadienne et allemande des services d'entraînement pour leurs pilotes. Top Aces fournit ses propres pilotes, sélectionnés parmi les meilleurs de leur profession, et ses propres avions afin de servir d'adversaires.
Le marché est prometteur. De 100 à 150 millions de dollars qu'il représentait jusqu'à tout récemment à l'échelle mondiale, il pourrait bientôt toucher les 3 milliards, gr'ce notamment à l'entrée en scène des Américains. Eux aussi ont découvert l'intérêt de sous-traiter le rôle de l'ennemi : coûts inférieurs et des heures d'entraînement plus productives pour les pilotes.
« Un pilote qui joue à l'adversaire est limité et il n'utilise pas ses heures de vol à son plein potentiel », rappelle Didier Toussaint, cofondateur et chef des opérations de Top Aces.
CONTRAT AMÉRICAIN
Vendredi, l'armée américaine a retenu sept entreprises à l'occasion d'un appel d'offres pour un contrat-cadre d'une valeur maximale de 6,4 milliards US. Ces sept entreprises seront donc admissibles à participer aux appels d'offres à venir de 12 bases américaines.
« Chacune de ces bases représente un contrat plus important que celui que nous avons pour l'ensemble du Canada. »
— Didier Toussaint, cofondateur et chef des opérations de Top Aces
Avec ses 29 appareils F-16 achetés de l'armée israélienne, Top Aces devrait être l'entreprise la mieux équipée du lot. Elle est déjà la plus importante en matière d'heures de vol effectuées. Elle devrait donc principalement se concentrer sur les bases aux besoins les plus évolués, celles qui abritent des F-35, par exemple.
À elle seule, cette expansion américaine représente un investissement de 450 millions US pour Top Aces. En plus des appareils, il faudra embaucher des pilotes, des ingénieurs et des mécaniciens. Une cinquantaine de pilotes américains ont déjà reçu des promesses d'embauche. Un ancien officier américain de haut rang quittait le bureau de M. Toussaint au moment où La Presse y est entrée. Il venait de passer un entretien d'embauche.
Top Aces s'apprête à accueillir de nouveaux investisseurs institutionnels, « dont certains québécois », qui lui permettront de franchir cette étape. Clairvest, de Toronto, et JPMorgan ont déjà une place dans son capital.
D'autres bonnes nouvelles pourraient aussi survenir au cours de la prochaine année. Le Royaume-Uni est à la recherche de services du même genre, tout comme l'Australie, dont Top Aces a été le fournisseur pendant une période d'essai de deux ans.
MOINS COÛTEUX
Si les services de Top Aces représentent des économies pour les armées de l'air, ce n'est pas en raison du coût du personnel. Les pilotes sont rares et l'entreprise doit les payer à leur valeur, dit M. Toussaint.
L'économie vient plutôt des appareils. En attendant ses F-16, Top Aces fournit ses services à l'armée canadienne avec 16 appareils Alpha Jet, des avions d'abord conçus pour l'entraînement et qui coûtent moins cher à manœuvrer que les F-18 de l'armée. Leurs performances moindres ne sont pas vraiment significatives dans la plupart des contextes, explique M. Toussaint.
« On n'est pas à 50 % des F-18, on est plutôt autour de 90 %. C'est le dernier 10 % qui coûte cher. »
— Didier Toussaint, cofondateur et chef des opérations de Top Aces
Environ 2000 heures de vol sont encore effectuées par des F-18 qui servent d'adversaires dans les contextes où la performance de l'appareil est critique. Top Aces s'occupe du reste. Les jeunes pilotes, moins expérimentés, gagnent à affronter des avions inférieurs dirigés par des pilotes plus expérimentés, indique d'abord M. Toussaint. Les Alpha Jet sont aussi convenables dans des simulations impliquant de nombreux appareils, où la performance de chacun est moins importante.
Finalement, l'entreprise fournit aussi des services à la marine, aux forces spéciales et à l'armée de terre. Les soldats s'entraînent à commander des frappes aériennes et la nature de l'appareil qui répond à leurs commandes importe peu. Quant à la marine, elle s'exerce à tirer sur des cibles en forme de missiles traînées par des avions d'affaires Learjet, au bout d'un c'ble.
Si l'interminable saga du renouvellement de la flotte d'avions de chasse finit par aboutir, le Canada se retrouvera équipé d'avions encore plus performants que les F-16 que détiendra Top Aces. Encore là, pas de souci, selon M. Toussaint.
« Ce qu'on réplique, ce sont des avions ennemis, essentiellement russes ou chinois pour être clair. Nos F-16, qui seront bien équipés, vont faire le travail. »
http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/b56ec892-2a8d-495c-8972-04df52fe2b08__7C___0.html
16 août 2022 | Local, Aérospatial
Military Flight Release allows Top Aces' F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter aircraft to begin supporting U.S. Air Force flight training programs immediately.
11 janvier 2021 | Local, Naval
NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Services and Procurement Canada Jan 08, 2021, 14:11 ET GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with safe and effective vessels required to protect Canadian sovereignty, while creating jobs and generating economic benefits for communities across Canada. Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, has awarded a $16.5-million contract to Zodiac Hurricane Technologies Inc., from Delta, British Columbia, for inspection, repair and overhaul work, on an as-required basis, on inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Inflatable boats provide a critical operational capability to all elements of the CAF. They are used to support a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, dive support, fishery patrols, boarding party operations, and the transfer of personnel and equipment. The essential maintenance and support services provided by this contract will ensure the CAF's fleet of inflatable boats remains capable of meeting current and future operational demands. This contract was awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance component of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which provides economic opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada. The contract will help create or maintain up to 23 jobs. Quotes "The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and we are working hard to ensure that it continues to deliver important benefits for Canada. The strategy continues to provide meaningful opportunities for the Canadian marine industry, generating jobs and opportunities from coast to coast to coast." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "The Canadian Armed Forces fleet of inflatable boats increases our reach and effectiveness during a wide range of operations at home and abroad. This contract will provide critical maintenance and support services to ensure our members remain well equipped to do the important job we ask of them, including emergency evacuations and transportation of personnel and equipment, while also investing in Canada's growing marine industry." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence "Canada's growing marine industry plays an important role in protecting Canadians and supporting Canadian workers. This investment, under the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, will help the hard-working members of the Canadian Armed Forces do their job, while also creating jobs in Delta." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Quick facts Work under this contract is expected to run from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, with options to extend the contract up to three years. Work will also include tests and trials, disposal, storage, shipping and transport, as well as field maintenance and engineering support. The scope of work will be on an as-required basis, depending on the condition of the boats throughout their serviceable life. This contract will support the CAF's current fleet of inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats, the CAF's future dive boats, the Canadian Army's 12-man assault boats, and the new multi-role boats being acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy. National Defence currently operates a fleet of approximately 1,000 inflatable rubber boats and 260 rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Since the launch of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, approximately $7.95 billion in contracts has been awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the strategy. Associated links National Shipbuilding Strategy Royal Canadian Navy Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada For further information: Cecely Roy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Anita Anand, 343-549-7293, cecely.roy@canada.ca; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca Related Links www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-contract-for-inspection-repair-and-overhaul-of-service-boats-841786125.html
26 décembre 2019 | Local, Aérospatial
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Two RCAF Challenger aircraft are too old to be upgraded with the modern systems required to meet new regulations for civilian airspace. Canada has cut a deal with the United States to allow two of the military's aging Challenger jets to continue to operate in American airspace despite not having the required new air traffic control equipment on board. The two Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger aircraft, used for VIP transportation and other military duties, are too old to be upgraded with the modern systems required to meet new flight regulations for civilian airspace. The new rules come into effect for the U.S., Mexico, Columbia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 1. For most of Europe, those rules will apply starting June 7. In Canada, the rules are being phased in between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jan. 1, 2023. The aviation rules call for increased reliance on data links, new air traffic control surveillance technologies and satellite-based navigation. The regulatory changes are being implemented worldwide and are commonly referred to as ADS-B. Canada had been in ongoing negotiations with the U.S. government and its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the continued use of the Challengers in U.S. airspace. “The RCAF has confirmed with the United States Department of Defense and the FAA that we will continue to operate our aircraft in U.S. airspace under a Memorandum of Understanding,” Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said. “This interim measure will allow the RCAF to continue operating its Challenger aircraft in U.S. airspace with established processes and is a reflection of our strong relationship with our American partners.” The memorandum covers a five-year period. “Since two of our Challenger aircraft are not ADS-B compliant, they may still be subject to suboptimal flight routings in parts of the U.S., depending on location, density of air traffic and other factors,” Le Bouthillier added. That could mean, for instance, that the Canadian aircraft might need to be rerouted or take a different flight path if the level of air traffic in an area is high. The RCAF operates four Challenger jets, with the two more modern aircraft already outfitted with the new equipment. The Liberal government has been reluctant to buy new aircraft since it is expected Conservative MPs will try to score political points about planes being purchased for VIPs such as the prime minister before new fighter jets are bought for the RCAF. When the Liberals were in opposition, they criticized the Conservative government's use of VIP aircraft. Some within the RCAF support either replacing the two older Challenger jets or purchasing a new fleet of four aircraft, noting the planes are also used for military missions such as medical transportation of injured personnel. The older Challenger planes are not the only aircraft in the VIP fleet that have faced problems. The RCAF's specialized VIP aircraft used by the prime minister won't be flying until August 2020 because of an accident this fall. On Oct. 19, while being towed into a hangar at 8 Wing Trenton by contracted maintenance personnel, the Polaris aircraft was significantly damaged when it rolled into the back wall of a hangar. Engineering teams from Airbus, the original manufacturer of the aircraft, and General Electric, which made the engines, assessed the damages and have provided an initial repair plan. “We do not have sufficient detail about potential costs, or the attribution of those costs, to provide any detail at this time,” RCAF spokesman Lt.-Col. Steve Neta stated in an earlier email. Neta said the RCAF was confident it could meet travel needs of the prime minister and other VIPs. The RCAF has other aircraft that can be used for VIP transport, including other Polaris planes and as the CC-144 Challenger fleet, depending on the requirements, Neta added. In early December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used another Polaris aircraft to fly to a NATO summit in the United Kingdom. After that plane arrived, though, problems were discovered in one engine and the aircraft was deemed temporarily “unserviceable” while it was repaired. Another RCAF Polaris, which had taken Governor General Julie Payette to Europe for a tour, was instead used to transpot Trudeau and government officials back to Canada. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/deal-allows-canada-to-continue-operating-aging-rcaf-vip-aircraft-in-u-s-airspace