WestJet and CAE have signed a 15-year training agreement that will see the creation of the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace in Calgary.
The 126,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in 2028, pending final approvals.
The centre will house eight full-flight simulators, cabin trainers and digital learning tools, with room to expand.
WestJet will be the primary commercial airline customer, using the facility for initial and recurrent training of pilots and cabin crew on Boeing 737 MAX, 737 NG, 787 Dreamliner, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) aircraft.
The project includes a partnership with Mount Royal University (MRU), making it the first facility in Canada to combine advanced training equipment with academic research and development.
“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,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group.
“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.”
The training centre will serve WestJet employees, other carriers, and students from MRU’s aviation program. A new Airline Transition Program, also launching soon, will give MRU students access to simulator time and specialized training in partnership with WestJet.
Construction is expected to begin later this year.
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