COLD LAKE - Another step has been taken toward the opening of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) school in Cold Lake, thanks to a partnership between Portage College and the City of Cold Lake.
On April 9, the City of Cold Lake announced it would be partnering with the college to purchase an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) curriculum, which is a step toward opening an AME school in Cold Lake.
“The City of Cold Lake and Portage College have partnered on the project for just under three years. The City of Cold Lake has completed a feasibility study for the school, created a design for a building, and has brought a first phase of the school to detailed design, meaning that the project now stands shovel ready,” reads information from the City.
City council has committed $88,000 to help purchase the AME Structures curriculum. The municipality has also set aside land for an AME school house at the Cold Lake Regional Airport, along with drawing up plans for the school.
“The facility is designed to accommodate training space for instruction in AME-S, AME Maintenance (AME-M), a pilot school, as well as flex space for training or industry looking for space for unmanned aerial vehicle training, maintenance, or operations in the region,” according to information from the City.
City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland says the project came about “through our economic development process and was developed as a way to strengthen and diversify our local economy, while also building on the strong partnership we have with Portage College and the aviation culture that exists here."
He added, “We are working with several partners in the industry and have been in talks with higher levels of government about support for the project. This purchase will bring the first phase of the school very close to becoming a reality.”
Portage College has been wanting to be AME-S training to the region for several years.
“We are deeply committed to meeting the training needs of our communities and AME-S training has long been part of the vision of the City of Cold Lake,” says Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Vice President of Academic and Research at Portage College. “We understand the regional, provincial, and national demand for AME-S training and are eager to begin working on building a high-quality program in collaboration with the city.”
Looking to the future
With a continued sustainment of the F-18, the future arrival of the F-35, as well as a future training jet for the Royal Canadian Air Force, the City of Cold Lake believes that aerospace and defence will continue to grow as a share of the local economy in Cold Lake.
“With the Art Smith Aviation Academy, a K-8 school with a STEM-focused, aviation-themed curriculum, the Cold Lake Air Cadet Camp, and 70 years of history as the home of 4 Wing Cold Lake, the city is well known as a hub of aviation activity,” reads information from the City.
The feasibility study confirmed that there is “a significant shortage of AMEs required to keep fleets of aircraft maintained and operational, compounding the industry’s lack of pilots needed to operate aircraft.”
The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles will also increase the need for skilled trades in aircraft maintenance, according to the City.
“We have a tremendous pool of talent to draw from locally, and we know that our community is already a draw for aviation enthusiasts,” says the mayor. “When you look at the pool of talent our region attracts from the military and the oilpatch, you see men and women who are the backbone of extremely important industries... We have a history of hard work, innovation, and aviation. It makes sense for this training to occur here.”
Portage College President Nancy Broadbent also expressed excitement about the program.
“The most recent announcements on labour pool demands have indicated opportunities in aerospace-related fields,” Broadbent said. “It is fantastic to support the City’s vision and to have this training that supports military personnel from 4 Wing who wish to transition to civilian duties upon retirement,” says Broadbent.
