Airbus building 19 helicopters for Royal Canadian Air Force
November 5, 2024 at 4:40 AM
One of Fort Erie’s largest employers has landed another contract that will surely keep its workforce busy.
Airbus has agreed to a deal with SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian defence leaders CAE and KF Aerospace, to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to train the next generation of pilots, explains a news release about the agreement.
Airbus Helicopters’ H135 model will be used to train the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force pilots. Credit: Airbus Helicopters CanadaThe contract is part of Canada’s Future Aircrew Training program and marks the first time that Airbus helicopters will fly as part of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The twin-engine helicopters will manufactured at Airbus’ Fort Erie site and Canadian headquarters on Gilmore Road.
They will be customized with a number of Canadian-developed supplemental type certificates, including modifications to the avionics suite and communications systems, as well as custom development in the cockpit, the news release said.
“SkyAlyne is excited at the successful conclusion of negotiations between our partners at KF Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters in Canada, and we extend our gratitude to everyone involved,” said Kevin Lemke, SkyAlyne’s senior executive.
“The selection of the state-of-the-art H135 from Airbus Helicopters contributes meaningfully to the Canadian economy and SkyAlyne is proud to be building a world-leading pilot and aircrew training program for the RCAF while supporting Canadian jobs,” he added in the news release.
“Entering into this partnership with SkyAlyne and the Department of National Defence is a historic moment for Airbus Helicopters in Canada,” said Dwayne Charette, president of Airbus’ Canadian operations, noting that 12 other militaries around the world employ the twin-engine H135 to train future aviators.
“This contract marks Airbus Helicopters’ successful entry into the Canadian military market. As we celebrate 40 years of serving Canadian customers locally, we are honoured to contribute to the safety of Canadians for many years to come,” he added.
Other Airbus aircraft currently operating for Canadian defence include the Airbus 310 (CC150 Polaris), the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (CC330 Husky), and the Airbus C295 (CC295 Kingfisher).
Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters in Canada. In 2023, the Canadian fleet of 760 in-service helicopters accumulated over 275,000 flight hours. The Fort Erie facility is also the centre of excellence for light single gearboxes, and the single source for critical composite components supporting platforms worldwide.
Each year, Airbus Helicopters ships 34,000 parts from Fort Erie to customers around the globe, the company said in its news release.
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About The Author
Kris Dubé
Kris is a veteran journalist who has worked in Niagara for close to 20 years. He is also a lifelong resident of Fort Erie, a place he plans to call home and raise his family for many more years.
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