National Research Council To Supply, Operate CanETREC
Facility
The world's aviation industry will benefit from the development
of the new Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education
Center (CanETREC) in Thompson, thanks to a major investment by the
Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada.
"We are pleased to support this leading edge testing facility,"
said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. "Research and innovation are
catalysts for new business opportunities and job creation, and this
project will help generate new education, training, and job
opportunities here in Thompson."
CanETREC will be a year-round research facility that specializes
in supporting engine icing certification and research and
development of new, more efficient and advanced aerospace designs.
Through partnerships with secondary and post-secondary educational
institutions, CanETREC will offer a wide variety of aeronautical
sciences and aerospace research and maintenance programs to
attract, develop and retain qualified professionals within Canada.
The testing technology will also be applicable in other sectors,
such as bus and automotive manufacturing.
CanETREC will be co-located with industry in a new facility
being built by the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and
Environmental Research Inc. (GLACIER). The state-of-the-art
facility is a new joint venture between Rolls-Royce Canada Limited
and Pratt & Whitney, to be used for icing certification and
research of aviation gas turbine engines for two of the three
largest gas turbine manufactures in the world.
"A facility of this magnitude will be a Northern Canadian
flagship centre of excellence that will receive global recognition
and use, helping to attract and retain students, researchers, and
industry so they can conduct leading-edge aerospace research in
Thompson," said Vic Toews, President of the Canadian Treasury
Board.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) will supply, own
and operate the icing system in GLACIER. It will also be partnering
with CanETREC. For more than 50 years,NRC has been a pioneer in the
development of icing simulation technology for aircraft engines and
wings, as well as ice detection equipment for aircraft and
atmospheric measurement of icing conditions.
An investment of $13.4 million from the Government of Canada and
of $9.0 million secured, repayable loan from the Province of
Manitoba towards this major northern initiative will create
value-added economic activities in northern Manitoba as the
knowledge and technology developed in Thompson emerge into
commercial opportunities.
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the
provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the
development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates
federal economic activities in the West and represents the
interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.