Bombardier's NATO Flight Training in Canada (NFTC) programme will add up to three BAE Systems Hawk 115 advanced and lead-in-fighter trainers (LIFT) to its fleet.
The move is designed to keep pace with the increase in student pilot numbers as a result of Singapore joining the scheme and the expected addition of Italy.
BAE Systems is to supply a Hawk for delivery in August 2002 in addition to the 18 ordered in May 1998. NFTC also has options on two more aircraft. "We think they are certainly going to need more," says John Coburn, BAE NFTC project director.
A fleet of 18 aircraft, including one spare, will generate just over 40 sorties a day to support advanced training in the third phase of the NFTC syllabus and a follow-on LIFT fourth phase for Canadian, Danish and UK students. This is to increase, with Singapore planning to send six students and two instructors a year to Canada, and Italy aiming to send three students.
"We're also talking to more countries and there is the issue of lead time to preserve capacity," says Col Ian Milani, Canada's NFTC project director.
BAE is set to deliver the first two Hawks next month and the remaining 16 jets by April 2001. Phase three training at Moose Jaw is to start in November, followed by phase four at Cold Lake in April next year. Phase one basic training had been set to start in February, but this has been delayed by the late delivery of the 24 Raytheon T-6A-1 turboprop trainers.
The first T-6 had been due for delivery last October, but was delayed by a combination of the US Department of State's initial refusal to grant an export licence and bearing problems with the aircraft's Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine. The aircraft was delivered to NFTC in February but will have to be returned for an engine modification. The next three aircraft will be delivered this month with the remainder following by September.
Source: Flight International
