The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the Canadian Armed Forces with the right equipment to do their jobs. Establishing a modernized aircrew training capability in Canada is an important part of this commitment.
Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) Contract Background
As the 17 CC-130J Hercules tactical airlift aircraft began to enter service for Canada in 2010, it was necessary to ensure there were highly-trained and mission-ready personnel ready to operate these platforms. On February 13, 2009, the Government of Canada selected CAE Inc. of Montreal, Quebec to provide comprehensive aircrew training services for the fleet. The contract included a full suite of CC-130J training systems, such as flight simulators, flight training devices, procedures trainers, and courseware, as well as 20 years of in-service support for the Air Mobility Training Centre (AMTC) in Trenton.
Contract Amendment
The amendment to the OTSP contract announced in July 2014, worth more than $32.5 million, will align the CC-130J training system with ongoing upgrades to the aircraft themselves, and help to better prepare RCAF aircrew. Upgrades to the fleet will include significantly improved navigation, communication, and maintenance capabilities to allow the CC-130J to operate effectively in civil and military airspace for the next five to 10 years.
As a result, the training environment is being upgraded to correspond with the CC-130J fleet modernization. To ensure the fidelity of the training environment, all training devices and courseware need to be examined, and in some cases fully developed. Lesson plans, publications, training devices, and spares will be updated to match the fleet upgrades.
The training is being delivered by military instructors at 426 Squadron, located at CFB Trenton, Ontario, using interactive courseware combined with high fidelity simulators, in order to support both pilot and associated support training. This aircrew training program has been originally developed, built, and is now scheduled to be updated by CAE Inc.
The CC-130J Hercules Fleet
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) welcomed the seventeenth and final CC-130J Hercules tactical aircraft into service on May 11, 2012, on-budget and ahead of the contractual delivery due date. The procurement of the CC-130Js demonstrates the Government's commitment to providing the CAF with a cost-effective tactical airlift capability to support operations at home and abroad.
Tactical airlift is the lifeline of the Canadian Forces—providing reliable aircraft to quickly and safely carry passengers, heavy equipment and supplies over long distances in support of operations, or in response to crises, such as natural disasters. For example, since June 2010:
- CC-130Js were deployed on Operation Athena, Canada’s contribution to the allied mission in Afghanistan;
- The CC-130J supported humanitarian relief efforts with the mobilization of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines;
- The CC-130Js were involved in the initial evacuation of Canadians from Libya;
- The aircraft has participated in domestic evacuations, such as the most recent efforts to evacuate the First Nations community of Kashechewan, Ontario; and,
- The CC-130Js provide airlift support throughout Canada and especially in the Arctic in support of Operation Nanook.
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