by Newell Durnbrooke
The Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team is led by global leaders, Babcock and Leonardo, who have over 100 years of military aviation experience.
THE RAPIDLY CHANGING global geopolitical landscape, evolving security threats, and conflicts, such as the ongoing Ukraine and Russia war, have forced many countries to examine their own defence and security capabilities. In Canada, the recently announced increase in defence spending is an early signal of the government’s commitment to investing in its defence and security programs to not only protect its own borders, but also its allies. Through the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) pro- gram, Canada is taking another important step forward to strengthen and enhance the abilities of the Royal Canadian Air Force by focusing on a critical element: the recruitment and training of Canada’s future pilots and military aircrew.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is undergoing a significant transformation that will see
it modernize its aircrew training capabilities in order to maintain a multipurpose and combat-capable force. The FAcT program will renew the existing aircrew training services, which include the delivery of pilot training as well as aircrew training for air combat systems officers and airborne electronic sensor operators.
Recently, Esprit de Corps sat down with Jana Lee Murray, FAcT Program Director for Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training, to discuss Canada’s requirements for the FAcT program. She shared how the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Train- ing team plans to leverage their extensive global experience and capabilities to deliver a best-in-class solution for the program.
L3Harris Technologies are strategic partners of the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team, who have over 35 years of experience providing premier in-service support to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“We are committed to ensuring that Canada’s military aircrew recruits receive the world’s best aircrew training,” says Jana Lee. “Together, we will leverage our global expertise to deliver a customized end-to-end military training solution that provides lasting benefits to the Royal Canadian Air Force.”
WORLD-CLASS EXPERIENCE WITH A STUDENT-CENTRIC APPROACH
The Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team has over 70 years of global aircrew training experience and over 100 years in military aviation. “Drawing upon decades of unparalleled international experience, in-depth knowledge, and a proven track record of building and supporting aircrew training solutions, Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training is committed to eading the development of a modern Canadian military training infrastructure, centered on supporting students and instructors and involving local partners, while aligning with Canada’s strategic and economic priorities,” said Jana Lee.
he Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team has over 70 years of delivering military aircrew training.
“We will ensure that the next generation of Canadian Air Force recruits are supported by a military training infrastructure, focused on their growth and progress over their entire career, while training to ensure Canada’s Air Force excels at home and abroad,” Jana Lee explained. “Through the FAcT program, Canada will require renewed aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose and combat capable Air Force.”
Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training partners, Top Aces, have an industry leading +95,000 hours of operations training worldwide.
WORKING WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training is working closely with strategic partners, selected for their history of supporting Can- adian aviation and their internationally recognized expertise to support the requirements of Canada’s FAcT program. The strategic partners include: Athabasca Catering Limited Partnership, Bird Construction, Dexterra Group, Executive Flight Centre, The Loomex Group, FlightSafety International, L3Harris Technologies, and Top Aces.
“I am thrilled that we have built an extremely strong team, consisting of strategic partners that are recognized leaders in their fields of expertise. We know that together we can deliver added value to Canada now and into the future and we are ready to provide the best solution for the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Jana Lee. “We are excited to announce more partners in the near future and will continue to expand our domestic supply chain by engaging with small, medium-sized, and Indigenous businesses from coast-to-coast.”
Delivering world-class training and value to Canada is at the core of every decision for the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Air- crew Training team. “We are working with local communities and are investing in the development of Canada’s future workforce,” Jana Lee continued. “Canada has an opportunity through FAcT to strengthen the capabilities of the Royal Canadian Air Force and to ensure that it is able to respond to the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. With our world-class experience and expertise, we have a very deep understanding of military aircrew training and the requirements outlined by Canada.”
“We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue on the exist- ing opportunities that our FAcT program solution will offer Canada and Canadians from coast-to-coast,” Jana Lee concluded.
The Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team is excited for the year ahead as they continue to engage with communities and stakeholder groups to add value to Canada