Hibernia Project and RDC Investing in New Helicopter Training and R&D Centre
- $16 million investment in a new helicopter training and research centre
- St. John's facility will be equipped with the first Level D simulator with night vision in Canada
ST. JOHN'S, NL, May 29, 2015 /CNW/ - The Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) and the Research & Development Corporation (RDC) are investing approximately $16 million in a new helicopter training and research and development (R&D) centre in Newfoundland and Labrador. HMDC will contribute $13 million to the centre and its helicopter simulator system, and RDC will contribute $3.3 million to the cost of the helicopter simulator system and the completion of five research projects.
The centre is being developed and will be operated by CAE, a leading Canadian provider of training and simulation technologies. The simulator will provide unprecedented realism for offshore facilities and local weather conditions, and will feature the first approved helicopter simulator with night vision capability in Canada.
"Our investment in CAE helps bring critical new R&D capacity to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development. "Supporting CAE brings a world-class researcher and collaborator to the province and promises economic benefits from applied industry R&D."
"The training and R&D centre will create local jobs, build local expertise, and support local research that is specifically designed for our regional environment and our offshore needs," said Jamie Long, President of HMDC. "Having this facility in the region will increase the level of research related to helicopter operations, which we believe will contribute to improved operations and flight safety."
"This state-of-the art facility will stimulate increased R&D activity and collaboration," said Glenn Janes, CEO of RDC. "It will provide a platform to develop and test new products and services that further enhance safety, improve transportation efficiency, and drive economic benefits from industry R&D expenditures."
"CAE is proud to receive this investment from HMDC and RDC to set up this new training and R&D centre in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Nick Leontidis, CAE President of Civil Aviation Training Solutions. "We look forward to offering the highest-quality flight and mission training to pilots working offshore in the province."
HMDC helicopter service provider Cougar Helicopters will train its pilots at the centre and is actively involved in research and development projects.
"We have very high flight crew training standards for our operations offshore Newfoundland and Labrador," said Hank Williams, General Manager of Cougar Helicopters. "A training centre right here in the province will give our pilots and crews the opportunity to train locally, and that means more training and less traveling."
The centre, which will be located in a new building on Topsail Road in Mount Pearl, is expected to be operational by early 2016. Spare training capacity will be offered to other organizations outside the province.
About Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is the operator of the Hibernia field which began petroleum production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador in November 1997. HMDC is owned jointly by ExxonMobil Canada (33.125%), Chevron Canada Resources (26.875%), Suncor Energy (20%), Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation (8.5%), Murphy Oil (6.5%) and Statoil Canada Ltd. (5%). Find out more about HMDC at www.hibernia.ca.
About RDC
RDC is a provincial Crown corporation responsible for improving Newfoundland and Labrador's research and development performance. RDC works with research and development stakeholders including business, academia and government agencies and departments to make strategic investments in highly qualified people, R&D infrastructure and innovative research. Find out more about RDC at www.rdc.org or on Twitter @RDCNL.
About CAE
CAE is a global leader in delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. CAE designs and integrates the industry's most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of 8,000 employees, world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. CAE's global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including joint venture operations, and the world's largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, CAE trains more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. Find out more about CAE at www.cae.com or on Twitter @CAE Inc.
SOURCE Research & Development Corporation
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