Italy joins NATO flying training in Canada

June 15th, 1999

Italy has decided to join the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme. After negotiations have been completed, Italy will become the third international participant, along with Denmark who has already signed an agreement, and the United Kingdom with whom negotiations are currently underway.

NFTC is an undergraduate and postgraduate military pilot-training programme being offered by the Government of Canada in co-operation with industry to NATO and other nations seeking affordable military flying training solutions. Instructor training will begin in November 1999 and student training shortly after. NFTC will ensure nations have the capability to expand their pilot training to meet short and long-term requirements, while fostering an increased Canadian presence and contribution within NATO.

"I welcome Italy's participation in NFTC. Italy's participation demonstrates once again to our allies the merits of cooperative military training of pilots in Canada," said the Canadian Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Art Eggleton. "The Italian commitment can be valued at about $120 million (CAD) over the period."

"As early as next year, the Italian Government also intends to participate in a training programme to be conducted at Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, Labrador," added the Minister. "This would involve about 6-8 combat aircraft and about 15 rotating personnel."

Initially, Italy intends to send three students per year to the NFTC programme. Italian Air Force students will take all three phases of NFTC training, starting at Moose Jaw on the Raytheon T6A HARVARD II, and then going on to fly the BAe Hawk 115 at both Moose Jaw and Cold Lake. Italy will also send three instructor pilots to the programme.

NFTC is a cooperative approach to training military pilots based on a partnering arrangement between the Government of Canada and industry. Canadian and other NATO air force pilots will provide the flying instruction. The industry team, which is led by Bombardier Inc., and includes British Aerospace, Raytheon Aircraft Company, CAE Electronics of Montreal and ATCO Frontec Corporation of Edmonton, will provide fully-serviced aircraft, training material, flight simulators, and airfield and site-support services to support the military flying training operation.

Industry involvement in the NFTC programme will result in almost $1 billion in direct industrial benefits for Canada, including more than 5,600 person-years of employment, predominantly in Western Canada and primarily in high-technology industries. It will allow 15 Wing Moose Jaw to remain open as the site of flying training operations for the next 20 years. NFTC's industry team is building new facilities in Moose Jaw and has started hiring people to provide the various NFTC services there.

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