NATO-accredited tactical training facility officially opens in North Bay
There’s no doubt you’ve seen and heard fighter jets flying overhead.
Officials have cut the ribbon to open the International Test Pilots School and International Tactical Training Centre in North Bay.
“It’s a milestone day for the North Bay community, for Canada,” says Dave Lohse, ITPS Canada CEO. “We are opening and establishing a NATO-accredited tactical training facility to support sovereignty and security for NATO, Five Eyes and allied air arms all over the world right here in North Bay.”
He says on top of an important defence contract on behalf of the federal government they have their launch NATO customer, the Belgian Air Force.
Just over 20 pilots are currently training locally.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured their facility last week and met with Ukrainian pilots training in North Bay.
“President Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for the important work that the government of Canada is doing in supporting the sovereignty and security of Ukraine and expressed his admiration for the testing campus that we have established,” says Lohse.
The centre moved here from London, Ontario with North Bay being a natural fit for their operations.
“Airspace is one of Canada’s greatest natural resources,” says Lohse. “Our students can get airborn and within ten minutes they are doing important tactical training events in the skies over North Bay, clear of the local community, but in designated, segregated airspace.”
He says their 21,000 square foot hanger is just the start of what they foresee is a long-standing local operation.
“We have plans to break ground on a 50,000 square foot facility to support allied fighter pilot training,” says Lohse. “We want to grow our capacity to have over 100 fighter pilots from all of our allies training in the skies over Canada.”
The pilot training can last from 4-9 months, even up 12 months depending on English aptitude training, which they also provide.
Lohse says the graduates of their course then move on to do training on frontline fighters, like F-16s or F-35s.
He says they use upgraded L-39s but have also entered into purchase agreements for Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainers and a comprehensive simulation suite.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
