CAE closes the acquisition of Bombardier’s Military Aviation Training unit

-Acquisition to expand CAE’s training systems integration offering

– CAE becomes prime contractor responsible for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program

Montreal, Canada. September. CAE has closed the acquisition of Bombardier’s Military Aviation Training business for C$19.8 million. All the required conditions and regulatory approvals have been obtained and the transaction has been concluded.

This acquisition significantly strengthens CAE’s core capabilities as a training systems integrator (TSI) globally, and further expands its offering into support for live flying training of future military pilots, including next-generation fighter pilots, for the Royal Canadian Air Force and its allies. CAE becomes the prime contractor responsible for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program that produces qualified military pilots for defence customers. The 200 employees located in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Cold Lake, Alberta, become CAE employees .

“We are pleased to welcome the team supporting the NATO Flying Training in Canada program to CAE,” said Gene Colabatistto, CAE’s Group President, Defence & Security. “The closure of this NFTC program acquisition follows the recent competitive win in the USA to deliver the Army Fixed Wing pilot training program, another full training system including live aircraft. Together, these programs are accelerating the advancement of CAE’s training systems integration capability and overall strategy.”

NFTC was launched in 2000 and utilizes more than 700,000 square kilometres of air space at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Moose Jaw and CFB Cold Lake. In addition to classroom, computer-based, and simulator training, the NFTC program delivers live flying training on a fleet of Beechcraft T-6 (CT-156 Harvard) trainer aircraft and BAE Systems Hawk (CT-155 Hawk) lead-in fighter trainer aircraft.

The NFTC program is also responsible for full maintenance and operation of the aircraft under the governance of Canada’s Department of National Defence airworthiness program.  In addition to the Royal Canadian Air Force, other NATO partners and  allies have sent student and instructor pilots through the NFTC program, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Italy, Hungary,  Austria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.