Big simulator contract for CAE...for Jercs but what about Chinook Fs?

Rather less than leaps at the eye, since the deal was basically done in 2007. Still, a stimulating photo-op for the prime minister, trying to get support in Quebec in these troubled economic times:

CAE lands federal military transport aircraft simulator contract worth $329.5M

CAE's (TSX:CAE) effort to offset an expected slowdown in civil aviation was given a boost Friday when Ottawa awarded a $329.5-million contract to train Canadian Forces crews on new transport aircraft.

An estimated 330 jobs will be created for three years as CAE designs and develops the simulators for Canada's new fleet of 17 C-130J Hercules tactical airlift planes.

Training in a new centre at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario will add another 50 jobs over 20 years, starting in 2012.

"Not only does today's announcement ensure that the men and the women of the Canadian Forces will get the best flight training, it will also create well-paying jobs now and for the 20-year lifetime of the contract not just here in Montreal but in locations across the country," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in announcing the contract.

Harper said the contract is part of the Conservative government's commitment to modernize Canada's military and provide jobs during a period of economic upheaval...

Under the Operational Training Systems Provider program, CAE will eventually provide training on CH-47 Chinook helicopters [that "will" may end up being a bit strong] and potentially search and rescue aircraft.

Friday's announcement marked the first contract under the program, but it had long been expected. CAE had been told in late 2007 that it was the only bidder deemed compliant on the work...

CAE will provide two full-mission simulators, one flight training device, three procedures trainers, one fuselage trainer and a laptop-based virtual simulator...

The photo-op:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper sits in the cockpit of a Series 5000
flight simulator at the CAE plant in Montreal Friday...by The CANADIAN PRESS

This is from the CAE press release:

...
Under the program called the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP), CAE won a competitive procurement to serve as the prime contractor to provide the training systems and services for Canada’s tactical airlift, medium-to-heavy helicopter [emphasis added], and potentially other aircraft fleets...

One does wonder a bit though about the prospects for CH-47F simulators...the prime minister's own news release is very guarded indeed:

...The Government of Canada has signed a contract with CAE to establish a world-class aircrew training capability for Canada’s new fleet C130J Hercules aircraft. Training capacity for additional aircraft may be added in the future based on the government’s future procurement decisions [emphasis added]...

Especially guarded compared to what the government said in January 2008:

...
8. Operational Training System Provider
Procurement process
...
This requirement directly supports the Tactical Airlift (C-130J) and the Medium-to-Heavy-Lift Helicopter (CH-47 Chinook) projects...

Interesting, is it not, that there will almost certainly be no protests about sole-sourcing to a Canadian company? For my part, I wrote earlier: "...I see nothing wrong with a good sole-source contract..." But it's also interesting that CAE's website rather downplays the company's Canadian nature.

Update thought: An indicator of the government's subtly backing off from major military equipment purchases? When the C-130J contract was announced in January 2008 this was attached:

...
Backgrounder

Major Military Procurements
This backgrounder describes the procurement process and status of eight major military procurements [emphasis added] now underway to help rebuild Canada's armed forces and strengthen Canada's sovereignty. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is responsible for the purchase of these goods and services on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND), which determines the government's requirements for military goods and services...

One wonders why these procurement plans haven't been trumpeted recently. The last significant listing of these plans I can find was part of the release of the "Canada First Defence Strategy" in May 2008.

Upperdate thought: The Air Force has two major acquisitions under way: the Chinooks and fixed-wing SAR. If the government is now desperate to save money, which one do you think is more likely for the chop? I see no way the warm and fuzzy FWSAR aircraft would be sacrificed in favour of large helicopters--ones that in the public, media, and opposition minds are associated with Afstan and combat (and we'll still have the six CH-47Ds).