Provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region/CNW
CALGARY, May 3, 2019 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is supporting the development of well-trained, skilled personnel to serve the aerospace industry of the future, by donating surplus Coast Guard assets to colleges and universities across Canada. These donations are helping to support aircraft maintenance training in Canada, providing practical and hands-on experience to students.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, today announced that the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, AB, has received a Coast Guard Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO105 helicopter. Nine other educational training institutions located across Canada have also received a donated BO105 helicopter.
The ten Coast Guard BO105 helicopters were in service in the Canadian Coast Guard for more than 30 years. The first BO105 helicopter was purchased by Coast Guard in April 1985, and the last unit was purchased in April of 1988. The helicopter fleet plays an essential part in supporting programs such as icebreaking, marine communication, aids to navigation, environmental response, waterway protection, conservation and protection, science and support to other government departments as required.
As part of the Coast Guard’s Fleet Renewal Plan, the Government of Canada has purchased and deployed 22 new helicopters – 15 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429) and seven medium-lift helicopters (Bell 412EPI).
Quotes
“I am proud that these Coast Guard helicopters will help develop students across the country allowing them to have practical and hands-on experience. These assets have a lot of history and are part of the Coast Guard’s heritage. I am glad that they will benefit the generations to come in building high-level aircraft maintenance expertise.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“I am pleased to see that Canadian institutions like the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology will benefit from the Coast Guard’s helicopter donations. Training on real helicopters further advances the skills and knowledge that students will bring to the aviation industry upon graduation.
Kent Hehr, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre
“SAIT is honoured to receive this generous donation from the Canadian Coast Guard. The BO105 helicopter is being used to teach students in our Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program, ensuring they graduate as productive technicians with the hands-on practical skills that industry demands.”
Jim Szautner, Dean, SAIT School of Transportation
Quick Facts
- In total, ten Transport Canada-approved training institutes offering aircraft maintenance engineer programs across Canada have received a donated BO105 helicopter.
- The Canadian training institutes receiving the donated BO105 helicopters include: Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek, BC; British Columbia Institute of Technology, Richmond, BC; Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, BC; Red River College, Winnipeg, MB; Canadore College, North Bay, ON; Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, Scarborough, ON; Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON; École nationale d’aérotechnique (Cégep Édouard-Montpetit), Saint-Hubert, QC; Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, NS; and College of the North Atlantic, Gander, NL.
- The Canadian Coast Guard has completed construction and delivery of 15 Bell 429 light-lift helicopters and seven Bell 412EPI medium-lift helicopters as part of its ongoing Fleet Renewal Plan. All 22 of the new helicopters have been deployed to Coast Guard bases across the country.
- The Canadian Coast Guard is currently building a full flight simulator that will provide a platform for training for the new fleet.
- The BO105s will be used by the recipient institutions for hands-on training for mechanical and engineering programs.
Associated Links
Stay Connected
- Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
- Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/rss-eng.htm.
SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region