Canada donates surplus Coast Guard helicopters to educational institutes

The Government of Canada has donated 10 surplus Coast Guard helicopters to colleges and universities across the country, with the aim of supporting the training and education of well-trained personnel that will serve the aerospace industry of the future.

The aircraft in question are 10 BO-105 helicopters – all of which have served the Canadian Coast Guard for more than 30 years after the first BO-105 helicopter was purchased by the Coast Guard in April 1985.

Following the delivery of a BO-105 helicopter to the Aerospace Centre of Excellence at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and one at each of nine other training institutions across Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard has purchased and deployed 22 new helicopters: 15 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429) and seven medium-lift helicopters (Bell 412EPI).

“The donation of this Coast Guard helicopter as a training aid is invaluable to Northern Lights College,” commented Mark Heartt, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeships, Northern Lights College. “Gifts like these allow us to better serve the people in our communities by delivering accessible, affordable, and applied education.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said: &quotI am proud that these Coast Guard helicopters will help develop students across the country allowing them to have practical and hands-on experience. These assets have a lot of history and are part of the Coast Guard's heritage. I am glad that they will benefit the generations to come in building high-level aircraft maintenance expertise.&quot