During a ceremony held today at Garrison Petawawa, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) formally graduated its first class of CH-147F Chinook helicopter aircrews who took part in the new, comprehensive Field Trials Course. Photos of the event will be available for download at www.cae.com/photos.

A total of ten RCAF CH-147 Chinook aircrew – six First Officer’s, two Flight Engineers, and two Loadmasters – officially graduated following an intensive 24-week course.

The first graduating class marks the culmination of a unique partnership between the RCAF and CAE to design and develop a world-class total training system for Canada’s CH-147F Chinook helicopter aircrews. The RCAF’s CH-147F Chinook training program involves a blend of computer-based classroom and academic training, flight simulator and training device instruction, and on-aircraft live flying exercises. Approximately 60 percent of the training program is conducted in both the classroom and synthetic training devices with the remaining 40 percent focused on live flying training and exercises.

“I am very proud of the first class of graduates who have gone through our formal Chinook training program,” said Lieutenant Colonel Chris McKenna, commanding officer of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron for the Royal Canadian Air Force. “I believe we have put in place a truly world-class training system for our 1 Wing CH-147F crews. I am fully confident that those who graduate this program are prepared to be employed as operational aircrew within 1 Wing, capable of supporting the Canadian Army, and executing the Royal Canadian Air Force mandate at home and abroad.”

McKenna continued, “Standing up a program of this complexity and scope has been an enormous task for my Operational Training Flight instructors and leadership. Our partnership with CAE has been the key to delivering this high level of training and simulation. This graduation represents years of work both in the RCAF and in CAE, all focused on ensuring our crews have the best possible training and exposure on this incredibly advanced combat-capable aircraft.”
Beginning in August 2015, the RCAF’s CH-147F aircrew began classroom and academic training using CAE Simfinity computer-based training courses, desktop trainers and instructor tools to bring high-fidelity virtual training to the RCAF’s CH-147F ground school. Classroom and academic training was complemented by practical training and exercises using the suite of CAE-built CH-147F training devices, including full-motion weapon systems trainer, fixed-based flight training device, deployable tactical flight training device, and integrated gunnery trainer. Throughout the Field Trials Course, the RCAF’s CH-147F First Officer’s, Flight Engineers and Loadmasters received on-aircraft live flying training. Classroom, simulator, and live flying instruction is provided by both RCAF and CAE instructors.

“We applaud and congratulate the first of many classes that will produce qualified aircrew for Canada’s 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron,” said Mike Greenley, Vice President and General Manager, CAE Canada. “CAE is extremely proud of its contribution to what is undoubtedly one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive training programs for the Chinook helicopter.”
The RCAF’s new Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters (MHLH) training facility is located at Garrison Petawawa in Ontario. CAE was the prime contractor responsible for leading the design and development of the RCAF’s CH-147F aircrew training solution, and has now commenced with providing 20 years of in-service support.

About CAE

CAE’s Defence & Security business unit focuses on helping prepare our customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness. We are a world-class training systems integrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of training centres, training services and simulation products across the air, land, sea and public safety market segments. We serve our global defence and security customers through regional operations in Canada; the United States/Latin America; Europe/Middle East/Africa; and Asia/Pacific, all of which leverage the full breadth of CAE’s capabilities, technologies and solutions.

CAE is a global leader in delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. We design and integrate the industry’s most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our 8,000 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. Our global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including our joint venture operations, and the world’s largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. www.cae.com