Collaborating for Success

Strengthening Aerospace Innovation in Western Canada

The abundance of natural resources that blanket Western Canada's vast landscape has always been crucial to the region's economic growth and prosperity. While these resources are a key economic driver, Western Canada has been turning to the sky and the stars to diversify its economic base. Today, technological innovation in the aerospace sector is quickly becoming the hallmark of the western economy.

Currently, Western Canada's thriving aerospace sector boasts annual revenues of more than $4 billion, and employs 15,000 people, with the majority providing engineering, technical or management expertise. Many of the 450 companies involved in aerospace in Western Canada are now developing a global customer base that spans the commercial aviation, defence and security, and space market segments.

This progress complements a nationwide trend. Overall, Canada's aerospace industry has become the fourth largest in the world, next to the United States, Britain and France.

To help strengthen Western Canada's aerospace industry, Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership on projects that enhance aerospace innovation and training in Western Canada.

The department also partners with the Western Aerospace Alliance (WAA) to identify national and international procurement opportunities for Western Canada's aerospace sector by facilitating business development opportunities. It also supports WAA's participation in key industry tradeshows.

In 2007, WD organized a trade mission to the United States to link western Canadian companies with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. A year later, Boeing announced contracts worth more than $157 million to companies Western Canada, including Avcorp for 747 light sheet metal assemblies; Hydratech Ltd. for direct work on the Canadian Forces C-17 Globemaster fleet; and SED for feeder link Earth stations and telemetry. Boeing, in partnership with Lockheed Martin and Rockwell Collins, also made an investment towards the establishment of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) program at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.

In 2008, WD was represented at the Farnborough International Air Show. In 2009, the Department worked in partnership with the WAA to help coordinate WAA's presence at the Paris Airshow.

Northern Manitoba to get new state-of-the-art cold weather testing facility

Already known as Manitoba’s “hub of the north”, the city of Thompson is quickly earning a reputation as the hub for cold weather testing and research in North America. For years, major automobile manufacturers have taken advantage of Thompson’s unique geographic location, strong infrastructure and subarctic climate to conduct comprehensive cold weather testing on their vehicles. Now aircraft are getting onboard.

To capitalize on Western Canada’s aerospace expertise and Thompson’s cold weather, WD has worked in collaboration with aerospace industry partners to establish the Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education Centre (CanETREC). The facility is scheduled to be operational by August 2010 and will be the world’s most advanced, large engine, cold weather testing and research facility.

Operating year-round, CanETREC will specialize in supporting engine icing certification and research and development of new, more efficient and advanced aerospace designs. In addition this testing technology will be applicable to other sectors such as the bus and automotive manufacturing industry. MDS Aero Support Corporation will manage the facility, which is being built by the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research Inc. (GLACIER). This state-of-the-art facility is a new joint venture between Rolls-Royce Canada Limited and Pratt & Whitney. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) will supply, own and operate the icing system in GLACIER. It will also be partnering with CanETREC.

CanETREC’s geographic location benefits from Thompson’s consistently cold weather and an expanded window for testing. During off-peak testing periods, CanETREC will focus on research and education to drive new aerospace designs. Over the long-term, the facility will expand its research infrastructure and develop expertise in noise and emission reduction, and alternative fuels and lubricants.

WD’s $8.4 million investment will help establish the CanETREC facility and will support leading-edge R&D in aerospace. The facility will also offer a wide variety of aeronautical sciences and aviation maintenance training programs through partnerships with post-secondary institutions.

With large-engine testing accounting for 22 per cent of annual global icing certification business and the aerospace industry conservatively estimating the need for 21,000 engines, including maintenance routines, CanETREC is poised to become a world leader in cold weather testing and certification and research.

CanETREC will operate year-round and offer a variety of different services, including:

• engine ingestion testing;
• cold soak testing;
• endurance testing; and
• blade-off certification.

Aerospace Innovation Across the West

Saskatchewan: NATO Flight Training in Canada
In partnership with industry, the federal government is providing world-class training to military pilots from Canada and around the world at the NATO Flying Training in Canada program in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Cold Lake, Alberta.Photo Courtesy of NFTC.

Manitoba: Satellite design and development
Bristol Aerospace Ltd. in Winnipeg was selected by the Canadian Space Agency to design and develop the MAC-200 small satellite bus, a unique technology adaptable for different types of missions. The satellite will launch in 2009 as part of the Cassiope mission, which will conduct space environment research and an advanced telecommunications technology demonstration. Photo courtesy of Bristol Aerospace Ltd.

British Columbia: RADARSAT Constellation Mission
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) is working on the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), a constellation of three identical spacecraft that will ensure C-Band data continuity for RADARSAT-2 data users. The RCM will support Canadian efforts to assure sustainable development, better manage natural resources and ecosystems, and enforce security and sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic.Photo courtesy of MDA.