Expandable Facility Will House Up To 8 Full-Flight Sims

WestJet and CAE announced a 15-year training agreement that will have CAE establish the Alberta Training Center of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace, which will be a cutting-edge aviation training facility housing up to eight full-flight simulators, cabin trainers, and state-of-the-art digital learning tools.

WestJet, a low-cost Canadian airline, will be the Center’s primary commercial airline customer and the first to schedule initial and recurrent training for pilots and cabin crew on the  Boeing 737 MAX, 737 NG, 787 Dreamliner, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) aircraft.

In partnership with Mount Royal University, the facility will be the first of its kind in Canada to combine training equipment with collaborative research and development projects.

Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group said, "WestJet's commitment to being the first commercial airline customer at the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence is testament to our investment in our current and future WestJetters and in Calgary as an aviation hub.”

“This 15-year contract is a significant commitment that will ensure our people receive the highest standard of training for years to come, and we're very pleased to join forces with CAE, a global leader in aviation training and fellow Canadian company, to bring this project to life," he added.

Matthew Bromberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE said, "Today marks a proud moment for CAE and for Canadian aviation," said "The Alberta Training Centre of Excellence represents what's possible when industry, academia, and government come together with a shared vision for innovation, safety, and workforce development.

He continued, “As global demand for aviation professionals accelerates, this centre positions Canada to remain at the forefront of training excellence. I am grateful to our partners for their trust and collaboration in shaping the future of aviation."

This project signals CAE’s expansion into Western Canada and with it, Calgary will become a major hub for workforce development. The facility is expected to generate new jobs in construction, education, and training, and will support both CAE’s and  WestJet’s commitment to operational excellence and safety as it drives economic growth and opportunities in trade and commerce.

Construction will begin this year, with training operations and research initiatives to launch when it is completed in 2028.

FMI:  www.westjet.com/