Canada’s Field Aviation Company Inc. has re-aligned its business direction to place a stronger operational focus on modification and conversions of aircraft for special mission roles, and VIP and corporate shuttle interior completions for regional aircraft.

To reflect its new direction, the company is launching a new corporate identity that will drive its new branding strategy. In recognition of the company’s international reach and influence, the company officially launched new branding and redesigned website at the Singapore Airshow, February 2-7, 2010.

Field Aviation vice-president of marketing, Chris Cooper-Slipper said, “The emphasis on our new business focus is in response to strong customer demand within these two key areas of our operations. The expansion of our VIP interior completions and special mission modifications programs is an exciting step into the future for our business as we enter this new decade.”

Canada’s Field Aviation Company Inc. has been selected to produce and install custom designed aircraft interiors for two new Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft under a contract with Avitrade Belgium, on behalf of its ultimate customer. The VIP interior modifications will be the first of their kind installed on Dash 8 Q400 aircraft.

Field’s extensive experience in VIP interior modifications will allow them to individually tailor each aircraft to the specific needs of Avitrade Belgium.

Albert Bloem, CEO of Avitrade Belgium, said, “By choosing Field to complete the interior of these aircraft we know we have made the right decision. In the past, they have continuously displayed the expertise, knowledge and dedication that have made them world leaders in interior completions. I am looking forward to completing this new project with them.”

Viking has added a new 84,000sq.ft. facility at its Victoria, BC location, to support expanding operations for the Series 400 Twin Otter production and ongoing de Havilland legacy aircraft operators’ customer support.

The new building was officially opened in December 2009, and will serve as Viking’s corporate head quarters and main manufacturing facility. The additional space has allowed Viking to customize and develop production operations in line with leading-edge quality systems and continuous improvement targets, crucial to supporting the Series 400 Twin Otter production program launched in 2007.

The new building is situated next to Viking’s existing heritage building that will continue to house Viking’s Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO) and Esso Fixed Base Operation (FBO). With prime air side location at the Victoria International Airport, the space now made available in the heritage building will facilitate growth of Viking’s MRO, which has made a commitment to support the growing international fleet of legacy de Havilland aircraft and new Series 400 Twin Otters.

Boeing has released its proposed subcontracting plan for in-service support (ISS) of 15 Boeing CH-47 Chinook Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters (MHLH), designated CH147 for the Canadian Forces.

Through the performance-based ISS program for the CH147 fleet, Boeing hopes to provide industry benefits of approximately $2 billion over 20 years. The program provides work packages in areas including engineering support; logistics support analysis; supply chain support; aircraft maintenance training systems and services; technical publications; ground support equipment; and maintenance site operations.

“Boeing has single-point accountability to manage the MHLH fleet’s overall performance while reducing overall life-cycle cost,” said Barry Wolff, MHLH ISS program manager for Boeing. “Ultimately, we are responsible for flawless execution of the MHLH ISS Program to meet or exceed the Canadian government's Performance Based Accountability metrics and to ensure the level of readiness that Canadian Forces deserve.”

Presagis Lyra Sensors along with other Presagis tools were delivered as part of a Boeing-developed solution for the United States Air Force F-15C Eagle tactical fighter training program. In November 2009, Boeing fielded the four F-15C Visual Systems Trainers.

Presagis Lyra and Lyra Sensors COTS Visual Runtime software were integrated into the training system to provide realistic out-the-window, infrared sensor, and night vision goggle views for the fighter jet scenarios. The Presagis Technical Services team also supported the development of the simulator’s Visual Database.

Presagis Lyra, a multichannel visualization system delivering 60-hertz image generation out-of-the box, provides out-the-window scenes with complex weather and environmental special effects. Lyra Sensors provides simulated views from the aircraft’s infrared sensors as well as accurately replicating the pilot’s night vision goggles system. The solution operates on multiple hardware and operating system platforms, and utilizes two host simulation interfaces, CIGI and FlightICD, to maximize compatibility with existing simulators.

Thales Communications, Inc. has been awarded two contracts by the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS) to provide Cradle Vehicle Adapters (CVAs) for the U.S. Marine Corps. Under these contracts, Thales will deliver 11,000 50-Watt CVAs to the Marine Corps for use with previously-purchased Thales AN/PRC-148 JTRS-approved radios. These contracts were awarded under the Consolidated, Interim, Single-Channel Handheld Radio (CISCHR) contract.

The 50-Watt CVA combines the functionality of Thales’ battle-proven AN/PRC-148 JEM (JTRS Enhanced MBITR) handheld radio set with a high-powered vehicle amplifier, providing 50 Watts of RF power output from 30 to 88 MHz and 20 Watts of RF power output from 88 to 512 MHz. A compact, rugged unit with a low-profile form factor and total weight of 16 pounds, the CVA can be easily integrated into space constrained land, air, and sea-based platforms. The CVA has the unique capability of remoting the radio separate from the amplifier to reduce the operational profile and, like the company’s other vehicle mount units, allows cable-free, two-second radio dismount, providing users with a fully-charged and immediately-operational handheld radio upon dismount.

DEW Engineering and Development ULC recently received a $39.5M purchase order from General Dynamics Land Systems Canada to provide ceramic composite hull armour kits for 352 Stryker armoured vehicles. Since 2003, DEW has been the exclusive supplier of the ceramic composite armour system for the United States Stryker program. Deliveries are expected to start in February 2010.

Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica, delivered the third Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) C-27/G.222 aircraft to the United States Air Force. Following the December 2009 delivery at Alenia's Capodichino facility near Naples, the aircraft was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan. There are currently three program aircraft deployed and in theater flying with the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF).

Full scale production and refurbishment continues at Capodichino with ten aircraft in modernization. All modernization for the 18 C-27/G.222 program aircraft is being carried out at the Capodichino plant where the original assembly of the C-27/G.222 aircraft was performed.

A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle has been launched by the US from Beale Air Force Base to assist with the humanitarian aid mission in Haiti after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the country on Jan. 12.

The Global Hawk's advanced imagery will provide an overall assessment of the damages, and will also help expeditiously direct aircrew flying into Haiti to deliver crucial supplies to those affected by the earthquake.

"(The imagery) will help to characterize what regions of the country were hit hardest by the earthquake, and we can provide that imagery to our intelligence unit on base," said Lt. Col. Mark Lozier, operations officer with the 12th RS. "They'll exploit the imagery and send it back to the requesting end user. In effect, you get to look at what we know is damaged, and what we know is still serviceable. We can take a look at airfields to assess, right now, whether or not we will be able to get airlift in there with aid. We don't have to wait for a ground team to get in there and make on site decisions."

The Government of Canada signed a contract amendment valued at $723 million with Lockheed Martin on December 18, 2009 for a support package on the C-130J Hercules. The contract is for an initial period ending June 30, 2016, and also includes a mechanism to extend the period of in-service support until the end of life expectancy of the C-130J fleet.

“The support contract is in line with the government’s Canada First Defence Strategy to provide the men and women of the Canadian Forces with the tools they need to do the jobs asked of them,” said Minister MacKay. “These aircraft will enable our Canadian Forces personnel to conduct more effective operations, at home and abroad.” 

In addition, this support package for the C-130 Hercules will result in high-value work for Canada’s defence industry through Industrial Regional Benefits (IRBs).