SAIT to build $150

SAIT announced a future $150-million facility to expand its aviation and drone technology programs and deepen ties between students and industry.

"It's looking at the future in terms of what aviation is going to be," said David Ross, president of SAIT. "We've long thought that unmanned systems were the next phase of the evolution of what aerospace will be, especially in closed-door situations."

The institution currently offers programs in aircraft maintenance, avionics, structures, gas turbine repair, and autonomous aviation. More than 400 students are enrolled in those programs, which operate out of the Art Smith Aero Centre, a satellite campus and hangar near Calgary International Airport.

The future facility will expand its offerings and deepen its collaboration with the industry.

"What this will allow our students to do is not only just get trained; they'll be embedded in the research, and they'll be embedded with industry," said Lynda Holden, SAIT's Dean for the School of Transportation and the School of Manufacturing and Automation.

Ross said the focus on collaboration is to develop technology and skills based on business needs.

"There's no sense having an application that works unless it's relevant to industry picking that up and pulling it," Ross said.

The initiative also received a donation of about $30 million from philanthropist David Bissett.

"It's hard to conceive of the opportunities in that area because you know we've seen already autonomous aircraft that can be controlled 1,000 kilometres away, and there's no reason why," Bissett said.

"And we all know that aircraft can land autonomously and take off autonomously. So why not have significant size planes that do transport work in the north part of Canada, where it would be difficult and dangerous for our pilots?"

Holden said this technology will impact several industries, including agriculture, emergency medical services and energy.

"The list is probably shorter on what industries aren't going to use it," she said.

Ross said SAIT's leadership is reviewing land options for the facility and hopes to begin construction by next year. "You need those corridors because these things go 200 kilometres an hour, and they can go up to three or 400 kilometres away from the pilot," he added.

The new facility will take SAIT a step further as a leader in aviation programs across the country. The college is the only institution that offers a two-year diploma in aviation and autonomous systems.

"So right now, we're leaders in the training, have been for some years now, but this just takes us to the next level," Holden added.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas also celebrated the announcement, adding the new facility "is a game-changing investment. It's going to allow us to build the talent to be able to merge and dominate this aviation and autonomous industry.

"It's connected to other major announcements, like the 100-year agreement that President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Carney landed," he added.

The latest news comes as the federal government aims to dramatically increase its defence budget. Ottawa is targeting to spend five per cent of Canada's GDP on defence — nearly $150 billion annually — by 2035. Canada spent $63 billion on its military last year, which met NATO's target of two per cent of GDP.

Chief of air and space force development Maj. Gen. Jeff Smyth said in a recent interview with Skies, an aviation industry magazine, that 80 per cent of the RCAF's aircraft will be replaced within the next five to 10 years.

While the province didn't announce new funding for the facility, Minister of Advanced Education Myles McDougall said the news signals the province is diversifying its economy.

"We will create new opportunities for applied research, industry collaboration, and hands-on learning, while preparing Albertans to work with emerging aviation technologies," McDougall said.

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