Singapore air force pilots are to be the first from a non-NATO country to participate in the NATO Flying Training Canada (NFTC) programme.
The deal was concluded when Maj Gen Raymond Ng, chief of the island republic air force, and Lt Gen David Kinsman, head of Canada's air staff, shock hands on it at Asian Aerospace.
Details are still to be finalised between the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Canadian Department of National Defence but it is proposed that six pilots and two qualified instructors a year, over a 20-year period, would travel to the Canadian prairies for training.
Advanced
The programme involves advanced training at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and fighter lead-in training at Cold Lake, Alberta. To date Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom have already joined the programme, by which the Canadian government seeks to provide affordable military flying training for Nato nations and other countries.
A Singapore Ministry of Defence statement says that the NFTC will provide a viable, cost-effective means of training RSAF pilots. "The RSAF participation in the programme is another significant development in the warm and friendly relationship between Singapore and Canada," says the ministry. "Current interactions include exercises, port calls by navy ship, courses and exchange visits.
Source: Flight Daily News
