Aug. 29, 2005
What is the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program?
- NATO Flying Training in Canada, or NFTC, is a military pilot training program with a fighter-pilot core element.
- The program is offered to NATO air forces and other allied air forces by the Government of Canada in a strategic alliance with Bombardier Military Aviation Training (BMAT) and a consortium of companies from the aerospace industry.
- Industry team includes BAE Systems, Raytheon Aircraft Company, CAE Inc, ATCO Frontec Corporation, SERCO Aviation Services Inc, and ARAMARK Canada Ltd.
What is the relationship between industry and government in the NFTC project?
- A traditional contractor/customer relationship between BMAT as the industry provider, and the Canadian Forces (CF) as the customer.
What is the Government of Canada's responsibility within the NFTC project?
Lead Department and Training Manager:
- The Department of National Defence (DND) is the Government of Canada's lead department.
- DND provides overall direction and day-to-day training management.
- DND/CF provides the flying instructor staff (military), sets the training standards, and designs the training syllabus.
- Participating nations contribute to the management of training and provide flying instructor staff on a pro-rata basis.
Fostering Partnerships:
- DND/CF is allied with other government departments and the industry consortium in the joint development and marketing of NFTC.
- Each member of the team contributes that in which they have strength and international credibility.
- Areas of cooperation include syllabus development (Canadian Forces lead); privately financed aircraft procurement (industry); market research; marketing; competitive cost analysis; and pricing.
Customer:
- DND/CF is buying training services from the NFTC program. Canada uses approx. 52% of the NFTC production.
Service Provider:
- DND/CF provides a variety of support and coordinating services to its own staff and students as well as to the staff and students of participating nations.
Regulator:
- Transport Canada does not have the technical capability to certify military aircraft (e.g. weapons capable, two seat, fighter type aircraft).
- Since the CT-155 Hawk is a military aircraft, it is certified under the authority of the Minister of National Defence in accordance with The Aeronautics Act.
- New certification procedures have been developed to deal with what is a new category of aircraft (Civil Owned Military Aircraft, or COMA).
- There is precedence for this approach in the UK where MOD has certified and registered COMA.
Maintain a core CF capability:
- Canada retains the training infrastructure and preserves the critical skills needed to sustain its supply of fighter pilots.
Strengthen Canada's position within the NATO Alliance:
- Training of NATO pilots in Canada will foster interoperability between air forces and the development of lasting friendships between Canada’s Air Force officers and those of other participant nations.
Modernize the CF undergraduate pilot training system:
- NFTC is enabling the CF to take a multi-generation leap in the technology of undergraduate pilot training without any capital investment.
Provide a Training Technology Showcase and Demonstrator.
- NFTC is a showcase operation that can be used to demonstrate Canadian training development, systems integration and management capabilities.
Why was Moose Jaw selected as one of the NFTC training sites?
- Moose Jaw has been a dedicated pilot training base for over 50 years.
- It is a purpose-built training base possessing all the requisite facilities for military flying training, including extensive military flying areas adjacent to the base.
What are the features of the NFTC program?
- Provision of a full program of basic and advanced jet pilot training that includes:
- Basic Flying Training (NATO Phase II) on the Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II aircraft at 15 Wing Moose Jaw – 95.1 hours of flying instruction (Ph IIA); 45 hrs (Ph IIB).
- Advanced Flying Training (NATO Phase III) on the BAE CT-155 Hawk jet aircraft at 15 Wing Moose Jaw from which pilots graduate with wings – approx 69.8 hours of flying instruction.
- Fighter Lead In Training (NATO Phase IV) on the CT-155 Hawk jet aircraft at 4 Wing Cold Lake – approx. 48.9 hours of flying instruction.
- An updated flying training program designed to prepare today's candidate for tomorrow's fighter aircraft.
- Modern glass cockpit training aircraft.
- New technology simulators and computer assisted training devices.(Together they maximize the training value of each aircraft flying-hour).
- Expanded and flexible fighter lead-in training that can be tailored to meet national operational requirements.
What is unique about Canada’s Training Airspace?
- Canada has a huge airspace needed to conduct effective jet-pilot flying- and weapons-training.
- NFTC has access to over 700,000 square kilometres of dedicated military training areas and ranges.
Is the NFTC program open to the air arms of non-NATO nations?
- Yes. Singapore, for example, has joined NFTC. A number of non-NATO nations will be invited to participate.
- The program they are taking is the same program offered to NATO nations.
- Participating NATO nations are consulted before any invitations are extended to non-NATO nations.
What is the NFTC program's pilot-production capacity?
- NFTC’s capacity fluctuates each year but, on average, it is 170 - 180 pilots per year (Ph II – IV). Of these, approx 52% are Canadian.
Is there a website on the Internet that I may find more information on NFTC?
