The Government of Canada donates surplus Coast Guard helicopter

NORTH BAY, ON, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is supporting the development of well-trained, skilled personnel to serve the aerospace industry of the future by donating surplus Coast Guard assets to colleges and universities across Canada. These donations are helping to support aircraft maintenance training in Canada, providing practical and hands-on experience to students.  

On behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming, announced today that Canadore College has received a Coast Guard Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO105 helicopter. Nine other educational training institutions located across Canada have also received a donated BO105 helicopter.

The 10 Coast Guard BO105 helicopters were in service in the Canadian Coast Guard for more than 30 years. The first BO105 helicopter was purchased by Coast Guard in April 1985, and the last unit was purchased in April of 1988. The helicopter fleet plays an essential part in supporting programs such as icebreaking, marine communication, aids to navigation, environmental response, waterway protection, conservation and protection, science and support to other government departments as required. 

As part of the Coast Guard's Fleet Renewal Plan, the Government of Canada has purchased and deployed 22 new helicopters – 15 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429) and seven medium-lift helicopters (Bell 412EPI).

Quotes

"I am proud that these Coast Guard helicopters will help develop students across the country, allowing them to have practical and hands-on experience. These assets have a lot of history and are part of the Coast Guard's heritage. I am glad that they will benefit the generations to come in building high-level aircraft maintenance expertise."

Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Students from Canadore College will benefit from the Government of Canada's donation. There is nothing like being able to provide students with the opportunity and tools they need to further advance their skills and prepare them for the kinds of real life projects they will face after graduation."  

Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming

"Canadore College aims to produce graduates who are not only skilled and knowledgeable but are ready for direct employability. We reach this goal by providing highly practical and hands-on learning opportunities, and that would be impossible without the gracious donations of our partners. The BO105 exposes our students to a more diversified fleet of aircraft and provides insight into the services provided by the Canadian Coast Guard. When governmental entities join hands to achieve a key goal of producing skilled graduates to serve our community, particularly in a safety-sensitive industry, we can say that one mission is accomplished."

Ahmed Obaide, Associate Dean of Aviation Technology, Canadore College

Quick Facts

• In total, 10 Transport Canada-approved training institutes offering aircraft maintenance engineer programs across Canada have received a donated BO105 helicopter.
• The Canadian training institutes receiving the donated BO105 helicopters include: Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek, BC; British Columbia Institute of Technology, Richmond, BC; Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB; Red River College, Winnipeg, MB; Canadore College, North Bay, ON; Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, Scarborough, ON; Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON; École nationale d'aérotechnique (Cégep Édouard-Montpetit), Saint-Hubert, QC; Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, NS; and College of the North Atlantic, Gander, NL.
• The Canadian Coast Guard has completed construction and delivery of 15 Bell 429 light-lift helicopters and seven Bell 412EPI medium-lift helicopters as part of its ongoing Fleet Renewal Plan. All 22 of the new helicopters have been deployed to Coast Guard bases across the country.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is currently building a full flight simulator that will provide a platform for training for the new fleet.
• The BO105s will be used by the recipient institutions for hands-on training for mechanical and engineering programs.

Associated Links

• Helicopters in the Canadian Coast Guard support government-wide, mission critical program responsibilities

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada