Aircrew Training Canada Ltd. (ATCL) has announced it will create a new flight simulation and maintenance training centre in Greater Sudbury, creating 50 high-paying jobs in the area.
An additional 100 jobs could be created within three to five years as the training centre grows.
The location of the facility is being finalized this month. The first training class is expected to begin in the fall of 2018.
“This is a significant event in the continuing efforts to diversify the economy of northeastern Ontario,” said Dan Melanson, Aircrew Training Canada’s CEO, in a press release.
“This will be a world-class flight simulation training and maintenance training facility that will not only create well-paying jobs — but also the economic benefit of a thousand plus pilots and maintenance engineers staying in Sudbury for up to a month each will be significant.”
This new facility will allow that training money to stay in Canada. As part of the agreement, Frasca International will design and build two multi-engine Level D full-flight simulators — and two single-engine Level D full-flight simulators.
The simulators will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility to be constructed in the Sudbury area.
The news release describes Frasca as a global leader in flight simulators, having manufactured almost 3,000 of them since 1959.
“We are very pleased to be selected by Aircrew Training Canada Ltd. to provide the full flight helicopter simulators for this exceptional facility in Canada,” said John Frasca, CEO of Frasca International, in the release.
Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault is quoted as well, saying the Nickel City is the perfect place for this kind of industry hub.
“This was an important project for me to get behind from day one,” said Thibeault.
“Sudbury is a community with an immense level of industrial and mechanical expertise, and a rapidly expanding research and innovation sector. Projects like this, which build on this foundation of expertise and innovation, are great for Ontario, and great for the people of Sudbury.”
ATCL says this project could not have happened without the support of Thibeault, as well as local MPs Marc Serré and Paul Lefebvre, and Mayor Brian Bigger.
"On behalf of city council, I would like to congratulate Aircrew Training Canada Ltd. on their new helicopter training facility,” Bigger said.
“Greater Sudbury offers a very competitive and highly skilled workforce. This venture will initially create 50 high-paying aerospace jobs in our community, as well as up to 100 more over the next three to five years.
"The creation of ACTL is in line with council’s strategic plan, aimed at diversifying our city’s economy while strengthening our national and international reputation.”
