The City of Cold Lake has purchased a hangar at the Cold Lake Regional Airport with plans to transform it into an instructional space for the new Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) School.
This initiative, in partnership with Portage College, aims to address the global demand for skilled Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and diversify the local economy by focusing on post-secondary education and the aerospace and defence industries.
“This hangar will house the first iteration of the Cold Lake Aircraft Maintenance Engineering School, which would be a big win for our community and our partner, Portage College,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “With the aerospace and defence industry operating in our community, a strong relationship with 4 Wing over the past 70 years, there are many potential partnerships we can leverage as this project takes shape. Of course, Portage has a long track record of meeting both the community’s and industry’s training needs, so they are the perfect partner to have at the table.”
The hangar was purchased for $165,000, following an $88,000 grant from the city to Portage College for the acquisition of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Structures curriculum. The collaboration between the city and Portage College aims to capitalize on the strengths of both partners to benefit the local community, industry, and broader economy.
“At Portage College, we are thrilled to partner with the City of Cold Lake on expanding into the aerospace sector,” said Nancy Broadbent, President and CEO of Portage Collage. “The establishment of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program marks a significant milestone for both our institution and the community. This collaboration addresses the provincial and national demand for skilled aircraft maintenance engineers, and by leveraging our combined strengths and resources we can benefit industry, community, and the broader economy.”
The city has also allocated land and developed plans for a larger facility to house the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering – Structures, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering – Maintenance programs, and a pilot school. Additionally, options for training and maintenance in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector are being considered.
Once the new facility is completed, the purchased hangar can be repurposed for other projects or business opportunities if it is no longer needed for instructional space.
“We have a strong, multi-year business plan at the airport, and we know that the space can be used for a variety of projects and business opportunities,” Copeland said. “We are taking a phased approach to the AME school to ensure that no opportunities are missed, and we are developing strong partnerships along the way that will ensure this project is a success.”
