By: David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen
The Royal Canadian Air Force has extended the contract for the NATO Flying Training in Canada program until 2023.
CAE provides ground-school classroom and simulator training, and supports the live flying training of military pilots in Moose Jaw and Cold Lake. In addition, CAE will also add new capabilities and perform a range of upgrades and updates to the overall NFTC training system and aircraft over the next several years, the firm noted in a news release. The modified operating period of the NFTC contract includes a one-year option for government to extend the contract through 2024 if it wants.
The original NFTC 20-year contract was scheduled to expire in 2021. The extension allows the Canadian government the time it needs to evaluate how it will provide aircrew training in the future.
“Since acquiring the NFTC program in October 2015, CAE has worked closely with the Royal Canadian Air Force on a range of initiatives to help improve the quality and efficiency of training,” Joe Armstrong, Vice President and General Manager, CAE Canada, said in a statement. “As the training systems integrator on the NFTC program, we will now continue to make enhancements and improvements that will sustain NATO Flying Training in Canada well into the next decade.”
In addition to modifying the operating period and extending the NFTC contract through 2023, CAE will also add new capabilities and perform a range of upgrades and updates to the overall NFTC training system and aircraft over the next several years, the firm noted. According to CAE, the new capabilities as well as upgrades and updates include:
Upgrades to the two existing CT-155 Hawk flight training devices (FTDs);
Upgrades to the three existing CT-156 Harvard FTDs;
Minor upgrades, ongoing maintenance and obsolescence management for the fleet of CT-155 Hawk aircraft;
Minor upgrades, ongoing maintenance and obsolescence management for the fleet of CT-156 Harvard aircraft.
As the prime contractor for the NFTC program, CAE pointed out that it operates the NFTC base facilities, delivers the ground-school classroom and simulator training, and supports the live flying training on a fleet of Beechcraft T-6 (CT-156 Harvard) and BAE Systems Hawk (CT-155 Hawk) aircraft.
The NFTC program combines basic, advanced, and lead-in fighter training as part of the comprehensive military pilot training program, the firm noted.
Showing posts with label NATO Flying Training in Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NATO Flying Training in Canada. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2017
Friday, June 3, 2016
RCAF rolls out custom-painted CT-155 Hawk to honour 419 Squadron
By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch
In honour of 419 “City of Kamloops” Squadron’s 75th Anniversary, the squadron unveiled their newly painted CT-155 Hawk during a ceremony yesterday at 4 Wing Cold Lake, according to the RCAF.
The paint scheme was designed by artist Jim Belliveau, and captures snapshots of the WWII history of this highly decorated unit, it noted. The aircraft is a CT-155 Hawk from the fleet of NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Hawk trainers used to teach Fighter Lead-In Training in Cold Lake, Alberta, the current home of 419 Squadron.
In honour of 419 “City of Kamloops” Squadron’s 75th Anniversary, the squadron unveiled their newly painted CT-155 Hawk during a ceremony yesterday at 4 Wing Cold Lake, according to the RCAF.
The paint scheme was designed by artist Jim Belliveau, and captures snapshots of the WWII history of this highly decorated unit, it noted. The aircraft is a CT-155 Hawk from the fleet of NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Hawk trainers used to teach Fighter Lead-In Training in Cold Lake, Alberta, the current home of 419 Squadron.
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| The CT115217 Hawk Anniversary Edition from 419 Squadron lands as it made its entrance to 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta on 01 June 2016. Image by: Leading Seaman Lisa Sheppard, 4 Wing Imaging CK09-2016-0537-005 |
More details from the RCAF:
“The camouflage scheme is a stylized application of the classic WWII Bomber Command topside green and brown, combined with an all-black undersurface which masked the aircraft from below against the night sky when most wartime bombing operations occurred for the Allied effort. The call letters VR-W and the dedication of the aircraft on the nose (with yellow “W”) are rooted with the Wellington Bomber flown by Wing Commander John “Moose” Fulton, the first and beloved Commanding Officer of the Unit in 1941.
The Moose insignia on the nose and registration KB799 belong to the Lancaster era of 419 Squadron, and the oldest known “Moose” nose art for the Unit. The roundels on the wings are a stylized combination of old style Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) wartime markings with the addition of a Maple Leaf in the centre to link the wartime era markings to that of today, while the fin flash and side roundels are wartime RCAF.
As “City of Kamloops” squadron, 419 is also holding a reunion weekend July 8-10, 2016 in Kamloops, BC as part of their 75th Anniversary celebrations and to celebrate their relationship with the city. A revival of the “Moose” Fulton Club, history book release, Freedom of the City Parade, flypast and static aircraft display, will all take place over the weekend; culminating with a formal Gala Dinner Saturday night.
419 Squadron is a satellite unit of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the centre of RCAF aircrew training and is comprised of 402 Squadron in Winnipeg, MB, 419 Squadron in Cold Lake, AB, 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Moose Jaw, SK, and 3 CFFTS in Portage la Prairie, MB.
“The camouflage scheme is a stylized application of the classic WWII Bomber Command topside green and brown, combined with an all-black undersurface which masked the aircraft from below against the night sky when most wartime bombing operations occurred for the Allied effort. The call letters VR-W and the dedication of the aircraft on the nose (with yellow “W”) are rooted with the Wellington Bomber flown by Wing Commander John “Moose” Fulton, the first and beloved Commanding Officer of the Unit in 1941.
The Moose insignia on the nose and registration KB799 belong to the Lancaster era of 419 Squadron, and the oldest known “Moose” nose art for the Unit. The roundels on the wings are a stylized combination of old style Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) wartime markings with the addition of a Maple Leaf in the centre to link the wartime era markings to that of today, while the fin flash and side roundels are wartime RCAF.
As “City of Kamloops” squadron, 419 is also holding a reunion weekend July 8-10, 2016 in Kamloops, BC as part of their 75th Anniversary celebrations and to celebrate their relationship with the city. A revival of the “Moose” Fulton Club, history book release, Freedom of the City Parade, flypast and static aircraft display, will all take place over the weekend; culminating with a formal Gala Dinner Saturday night.
419 Squadron is a satellite unit of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the centre of RCAF aircrew training and is comprised of 402 Squadron in Winnipeg, MB, 419 Squadron in Cold Lake, AB, 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Moose Jaw, SK, and 3 CFFTS in Portage la Prairie, MB.
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