Canada’s C295 Soars: A New Era for the Royal Air Force
Milestone Achieved: Airbus C295 Maiden Flight for Canada’s RCAF
On July 4th, the first Airbus C295, specially acquired by the Government of Canada for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) program, successfully completed its maiden flight. This significant achievement is a crucial step toward its scheduled delivery by the end of 2019, setting the stage for operational testing by the RCAF. The aircraft, designated as CC-295 for Canada, took off from Seville, Spain, and returned after one hour and 27 minutes.
FWSAR Program Overview
The FWSAR program represents a pivotal initiative with a contract awarded in December 2016. This contract includes 16 C295 aircraft along with comprehensive In-Service Support elements, covering training, engineering services, and the establishment of a new Training Centre in Comox, British Columbia. In addition, maintenance and support services are included to ensure operational efficacy.
The C295 aircraft will be stationed at various locations where search and rescue squadrons currently operate: Comox, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Trenton, Ontario; and Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
Since the announcement of the FWSAR program two and a half years ago, notable progress has been made. Flight testing for the first aircraft is set to begin, with five more aircraft currently in different assembly stages, and seven simulator and training devices undergoing various testing phases.
Training for the first RCAF crews is anticipated to commence in late summer 2019 at Airbus’ International Training Centre in Seville, Spain. This training effort is part of the broader objective of ensuring that the RCAF is fully prepared to use the new aircraft.
Economic Impact: Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB)
The FWSAR program is expected to generate approximately $2.5 billion (CAD) in Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) for Canada, building long-lasting partnerships with the Canadian industry. As of January 2019, around 86 percent of critical Canadian In-Service Support (ISS) tasks have been executed locally by Canadian companies, demonstrating Airbus’s commitment to delivering high-value work and facilitating the transfer of essential capabilities to Canadian enterprises to support the FWSAR aircraft.
In addition to direct program involvement, Airbus is also fostering indirect business growth within Canada’s military, aeronautical, and space sectors, including opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises that support the ITB program.
