Canada Extends Flight Training Contract, But Actively Seeks Replacement

VICTORIA, British Columbia — The Canadian government has extended its contract with CAE to provide NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC), a qualification program for pilots, while it works on a new multibillion-dollar replacement program.

The extension is for another two years at a cost of more than CAN $300 million (US $229 million).

The previously contracted flight training program was scheduled to expire in 2021. Under the new amendment, the NFTC program will now run until at least 2023. The modification also includes a one-year option to extend the contract through to 2024.

"This extension will allow the government the time necessary to determine its future aircrew training requirements," said Nicolas Boucher, a spokesman for Public Services and Procurement Canada, the federal department that handles defense contracts.

Canada’s military has started work on the replacement program designed to train its future pilots, as well as NATO aviators, over a 20-year period.

Industry representatives have been asked for feedback on the future pilot training project, expected to be worth at least CAN $4 billion.

Requests for bids on that program will be issued to industry in 2019, Boucher said. A contract is expected to be awarded in 2021, he added.

The project will combine two existing current programs into one. It will include the NFTC program, which

covers advanced and lead-in fighter training. Besides training Royal Canadian Air Force pilots, that program is open to those from NATO and allied nations. Past participants have included aviators from

Denmark, the UK, Singapore, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In 2027, the CAN $1.77 billion Contracted Flying Training and Support project, which provides the Canadian military with primary flight training and specialized helicopter and multi-engine, fixed-wing pilot training, will be brought under the umbrella of the future pilot training programa.

Under the current NFTC program, CAE provides flight training services including serviced aircraft, simulator instruction, flight simulators, classroom instruction, training courseware and other services in support of flight training at the Royal Canadian Air Force's 15 Wing flight training units in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Cold Lake, Alberta.

Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, said the new modification to the existing contract will ensure that the essential pilot training system continues until the new program is up and running.

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