Canadian Coast Guard helicopter donations

In early 2018, the Canadian Coast Guard donated 10 helicopters to Transport Canada-approved training institutes offering aircraft maintenance engineer programs across Canada. These Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO105 helicopters were in service in the Canadian Coast Guard for more than 30 years. As part of the Coast Guard’s Fleet Renewal Plan, the Government of Canada purchased and deployed 22 new helicopters:

15 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429)
7 medium-lift helicopters (Bell 412 EPI)

All 22 new helicopters have been deployed to Coast Guard bases across the country.

Canadian Coast Guard helicopters

Helicopter transportation services are a key part of the Canadian Coast Guard's readiness profile and response capability. Our helicopters assist with:

Search and Rescue
Icebreaking operations
Environmental Response
Marine Navigation Services
Navigable Waters Protection
Marine Communications and Traffic Services

Use in training

We’re committed to supporting the development of well-trained, skilled personnel to serve the aerospace industry of the future. This support is crucial to the overall success and well-being of the Coast Guard, its employees and its partners.

These donations will give students the opportunities and tools they need to develop their skills with practical, hands-on experience. The helicopters are used during the students’ practical phase of training, mirroring the real-life tasks they’ll perform upon graduation. This helps to prepare them for exciting new careers in aircraft maintenance.

Training institutes

We donated BO105 helicopters to the following training institutes in:

Alberta:
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary
British Columbia:
- Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek
- British Columbia Institute of Technology, Richmond
Manitoba:
- Red River College, Winnipeg
Ontario:
- Algonquin College, Ottawa
- Canadore College, North Bay
- Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, Scarborough
Québec:
- École nationale d’aérotechnique (Cégep Édouard-Montpetit), Saint-Hubert
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- College of the North Atlantic, Gander
Nova Scotia:
- Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth

Video

Transcript: Canadian Coast Guard donates helicopter to Algonquin College

Nathan Charby: My name is Nathan Charby, I applied to this program because I really like doing mechanics of any sorts. I worked in an auto shop for a bit then I got older and started specializing my skills in the trades and I just realized I want my job to have a lot more meaning and weight, so I came to the aviation. I did a lot of looking around for colleges and stuff and this one piqued my interest, specifically with this helicopter here because it’s in such good condition and it’s one of the most advanced we have.

So with this two year program we learned about anything from propellers, to the fuel systems, to how a turbine engine works.

Serge Côté: So how’s the inspection coming along?

Nathan Charby: Good.

Serge Côté: Very appreciative of the Canadian Coast Guard for giving us this helicopter because that was instrumental for us to run the program.

Nathan Charby: If my school didn’t have a helicopter it would make it harder for me to get in the trade, so it’s a really good thing to put on a resume that I have experience with the BO105.

Page details

2025-12-04