NATO Flying Training in Canada
Encyclopedia
NATO Flight Training in Canada (NFTC) is a military flight training
program for NATO and allied air forces provided by the Canadian Forces
.
Located at 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw
in Moose Jaw
, Saskatchewan
and 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
, the program is delivered as a cooperative operation between a civilian contractor, Bombardier Aerospace Military Aviation Training (Bombardier MAT) , and the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF).
Two types of aircraft are flown at NFTC: the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 Hawk
. NFTC training consists of Phases II, III, and IV. Phase II is subdivided into IIA and IIB.
All pilots in the NFTC program undertake Phase IIA (Basic Pilot Training), which consists of 95.1 flying hours on the CT-156 Harvard II
. After Phase IIA, students are split into 3 streams: fast-jet trainees (future instructors and/or fighter pilots); multi-engine trainees; and helicopter trainees.
Those moving on to Phase III training on the Helicopter
and Multi-Engine tracks go to Portage La Prairie (Southport) Manitoba for those courses. Those selected for the Fast Jet
track complete Phase IIB (another 45 flying hours on the Harvard II). Fast-jet candidates then move on to Phase III in Moose Jaw (69.8 flying hours). At the completion of Phase III, pilots are awarded their Pilot's Wings (Canadian Forces Flying Badge).
Future fighter pilots move on to Phase IV, still on the Hawk, but now at 4 Wing Cold Lake. Phase IV consists of 48.9 flying hours. Successful graduates of Phase IV are then trained on the CF-18 Hornet
(CF-188) at Cold Lake.
Division of responsibilities between DND (RCAF), Bombardier MAT, and participating Air Forces is as follows:
RCAF: All in-aircraft flying instruction is given by military pilots from the Canadian Forces. DND oversees training standards, provides Canadian military trainees, provides airspace, and dictates the syllabus.
Bombardier: The NFTC aircraft are owned and maintained by Bombardier. Academic and simulator instruction is given by Bombardier employees (who must have had previous military flying instruction experience). Bombardier also operates infrastructure (buildings) and provides food services.
Other participating Air Forces: International program management, foreign military flight instructors, foreign military students, quality control.
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
program for NATO and allied air forces provided by the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
.
Located at 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw
CFB Moose Jaw
Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw , commonly referred to as 15 Wing Moose Jaw and CFB Moose Jaw, is a Canadian Forces Base located south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan...
in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
CFB Cold Lake
Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
, the program is delivered as a cooperative operation between a civilian contractor, Bombardier Aerospace Military Aviation Training (Bombardier MAT) , and the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF).
Two types of aircraft are flown at NFTC: the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
. NFTC training consists of Phases II, III, and IV. Phase II is subdivided into IIA and IIB.
All pilots in the NFTC program undertake Phase IIA (Basic Pilot Training), which consists of 95.1 flying hours on the CT-156 Harvard II
T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
. After Phase IIA, students are split into 3 streams: fast-jet trainees (future instructors and/or fighter pilots); multi-engine trainees; and helicopter trainees.
Those moving on to Phase III training on the Helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and Multi-Engine tracks go to Portage La Prairie (Southport) Manitoba for those courses. Those selected for the Fast Jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
track complete Phase IIB (another 45 flying hours on the Harvard II). Fast-jet candidates then move on to Phase III in Moose Jaw (69.8 flying hours). At the completion of Phase III, pilots are awarded their Pilot's Wings (Canadian Forces Flying Badge).
Future fighter pilots move on to Phase IV, still on the Hawk, but now at 4 Wing Cold Lake. Phase IV consists of 48.9 flying hours. Successful graduates of Phase IV are then trained on the CF-18 Hornet
CF-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter aircraft, based on the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New Fighter Aircraft competition, and a production order was awarded...
(CF-188) at Cold Lake.
Division of responsibilities between DND (RCAF), Bombardier MAT, and participating Air Forces is as follows:
RCAF: All in-aircraft flying instruction is given by military pilots from the Canadian Forces. DND oversees training standards, provides Canadian military trainees, provides airspace, and dictates the syllabus.
Bombardier: The NFTC aircraft are owned and maintained by Bombardier. Academic and simulator instruction is given by Bombardier employees (who must have had previous military flying instruction experience). Bombardier also operates infrastructure (buildings) and provides food services.
Other participating Air Forces: International program management, foreign military flight instructors, foreign military students, quality control.