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Aircrew Training Canada Limited (ATCL) and Frasca International have signed a letter of intent that will lead to the purchase of four full-motion helicopter simulators manufactured by Frasca.
Those simulators will be part of a new training facility in Sudbury, Ont. ATCL will initially create 50 high-paying aerospace jobs and is expected to create an additional 100 jobs within three to five years as the flight simulation and maintenance training centre grows.
“This is a significant event in the continuing efforts to diversify the economy of Northeastern Ontario,” said ATCL CEO Dan Melanson. “This will be a world-class flight simulation training and maintenance training facility that will not only create well-paying jobs–but also the economic benefit of 1,000+ plus pilots and maintenance engineers staying in Sudbury for up to a month each will be significant.”
Right now, the federal and provincial governments as well as commercial operators are spending tens of millions of dollars having their helicopter pilots and maintenance crews trained in the United States. This new facility will allow that training money to stay in Canada.
Frasca is a global leader in flight simulators, having manufactured almost 3,000 of them since 1959.
“We are very pleased to be selected by Aircrew Training Canada Limited to provide the full-flight helicopter simulators for this exceptional facility in Canada. We know ATCL is very widely experienced in the helicopter industry and their selection reaffirms our belief that Frasca is at the very forefront of rotorcraft simulation,” said John Frasca, CEO, Frasca International. “We are excited to play a major role in the continued growth and development of the aerospace and technology sector for Canada. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with ATCL to support their world-class facility for commercial helicopter pilot training in Canada.”
Sudbury’s Member of Provincial Parliament, Glenn Thibeault, is supportive of the project. According to Thibeault, Sudbury is the perfect place for this kind of industry hub.
“This was an important project for me to get behind from day one,” said Thibeault. “Sudbury is a community with an immense level of industrial and mechanical expertise, and a rapidly expanding research and innovation sector. Projects like this, which build on this foundation of expertise and innovation, are great for Ontario, and great for the people of Sudbury.”
ATCL says this project could not have happened without the support of Thibeault, as well as local MPs Marc Serra, Paul Lefebvre and Mayor Brian Bigger.
“On behalf of city council, I would like to congratulate Aircrew Training Canada Limited on their new helicopter training facility,” said Bigger. “Greater Sudbury offers a very competitive and highly skilled workforce. This venture will initially create 50 high-paying aerospace jobs in our community, as well as up to 100 more over the next three to five years.
“The creation of ACTL is in line with council’s strategic plan, aimed at diversifying our city’s economy while strengthening our national and international reputation.”
The location of the facility is being finalized this month. The first training class is expected to begin in fall 2018.
