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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/97 CANADA OFFERS NATO PILOT TRAINING by Karl Schwarz In its search for a cost cutting potential, the Canadian Defence Ministry is considering a complete privatization of its pilot training. Since this would not be attractive just for their own needs of 15 student pilots per year, Ottawa together with Bombardier had the idea to offer the necessary facilities and aircraft to other NATO partners as well. Following a two-year marketing campaign in Europe, letters of intent have been signed by Denmark (4 to 8 students per year), Norway (2 to 6), and Great Britain (10). Even though this is less than originally hoped for, Defence Minister Doug Young gave a green light for further preparations of the NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada) at the end of April, which is supposed to start in 1999. NFTC will be managed from a private consortium under the lead of Bombardier's Canadair Defence Systems Division. British Aerospace (with initially 17 Hawk 115) and Embraer (with 23 EMB-312H Super Tucanos) are supplying the aircraft. CAE Electronics will be responsible for the simulators, along with CAE Aviation and Frontec-ATCO who are contributing management and facilities. The Canadian Forces will supply the instructors and will allow the use of the airfields in Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan) and Cold Lake, including the large exercise areas. Following a national screening, NFTC will bring the student pilots up to a standard that will later allow a flawless training on the respective weapon system of their countries. The Canadian pilot training will comprise of three training phases: Basic training in Moose Jaw with 123 flight hours (91 missions) on the Super Tucano Advanced Training on the jet powered Hawk trainer (also in Moose Jaw (61 flights, 80 hours) Tactical training on Hawk in Cold Lake (47 hours and 36 missions). If desired, the training can be continued aft the basic training on multi-engine aircraft or on helicopters. This part of the training is accomplished in Portage La Prairie. According to the Canadian considerations, the NFTC programme will generate a cost reduction by better usage of existing facilities which would otherwise have to be closed for part of it. The country's industry is looking at a turnover of almost DM900 million over a period of 25 years, along with almost 500 jobs. Canada does not want to have its pilot training considered as a competition to the Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in the USA. Supposedly, there is a need for 65 needed training slots per year which Canada is able to satisfy. NATO has left the decision to its individual member nations to decide in which of the programs they would like to participate. For the German Air Force, which has long-term contracts with the USAF, the question arises only after the year 2000. From page 60 of FLUG REVUE 11/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated October 16, 1997 FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany