Kelowna aviation company adds to air force contract

KF Aerospace (formerly Kelowna Flightcraft) is adding a helicopter simulator to its already lucrative Royal Canadian Air Force pilot training contract.

The deal with Canada’s Department of National Defence will see KF add a Bell 206 Level 7 Training Device to facilities at Southport Aerospace in Portage la Prairie, Man., in January.

The simulator should be fully operational by April 2018.

The installation is part of an extra $6.5-million capital investment at Southport.

Overall, KF is a decade into a 20-year, $2-billion contract with the Royal Canadian Air Force to do all its pilot training until 2017.

Because it’s a simulator, the Bell 206 Level 7 Training Device allows pilots to train on the ground in an environment as real as possible.

Simulators are popular in training because it allows pilots to learn without the additional expense of putting a big and expensive helicopter or plane into the air to burn fuel.

In fact the simulator eliminates the need for KF to add four aircraft to its flying fleet.

“(It) is one example of how we’re continually honing our training system to provide exceptional service, efficiency and throughput for our Canada Armed Forces customer,” said KF site manager Peter Fedak.

“The (simulator) will provide the Royal Canadian Air Force with the ability to decide what flight training regimes are best suited for simulation and which operations require an actual aircraft. This will ensure Royal Canadian Air Force aircrew receive the right training, to the right people and at the right time.”

KF provides all primary, basic, rotary-wing and multi-engine pilot training for the air force using simulators as well as real aircraft.

At Southport, KF trains all pilots seeking to become part of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

It also trains 80 per cent of new pilots inducted into the air force as well providing the lead-in air navigator training course for all potential air combat systems officers.

KF is a diversified aviation company with headquarters at Kelowna airport.

It currently has 600 staff at its Kelowna hangars doing everything from aircraft retrofits and maintenance to flying cargo, leasing planes and crews and administration.

KF’s roster of customers includes passenger airlines, like WestJet cargo carriers, forestry flyers, government and military clients worldwide.

The scope makes KF Kelowna’s largest private-sector employer.

The company is on a hiring jag and will have 650 workers, an all-time high, by the end of the summer. A new contract with Aeronautical Engineers of Miami to convert used passenger jets into cargo planes is the reason for the hiring.