CAE is pushing the limits of simulation-based training with its new prodigy simulator which harnesses the power of gaming technology.

BY JAMES CARELESS

When it comes to simulation-based flight training, very few companies are in the same league as CAE. “We’re one of the top training companies in the world,” said France Hébert, CAE’s Vice President of Defence & Security for Canada. “We’ve been in existence for over 75 years now, and we’ve led the way in developing new technologies for modelling and simulation. We’ve created many innovations that have changed both civilian and military flight training.”

INNOVATIONS AT CAE

Never one to rest on its laurels, CAE has broken new ground in creating truly-immersive digital simulation environments. To make this happen, CAE’s new Prodigy simulator and its Prodigy Image Generator (IG) are using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, a state-of-the-art gaming engine, to deliver high-fidelity graphics and physics-based simulations. The astounding quality of this decision can be seen in an online video at www.cae.com/prodigy. Thanks to Unreal Engine, the lighting of the 3D landscape is realistic and naturally changing, and the 3D buildings, terrain and sky are intricately detailed.

            “CAE is the first aviation simulation and training organization to integrate a gaming engine into its first flight, full flight simulator visual system, and to achieve Level D qualification,” noted Hébert. “This is the highest level of qualification for a full flight simulator, and this technology is applicable to civil and military simulators.”

            Adopting advanced gaming technology for flight training makes good sense, given that the next generation of aviators have grown up with this technology. As well, “all this new approach to simulations-based training can be done now onsite or in the cloud, which makes the training more flexible and closer to where it’s needed,” she told CDR.

            CAE is also incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into its simulations-based training platforms, along with biometric measurement devices and other analytical tools. Collectively, these advances are opening up new training possibilities for the company. “They include highly personalized training, new tools for instructors and team training with advanced networking across multiple simulators and training devices, even within operational command and control platforms,” said Hébert.

CANADIAN SUCCESS = GLOBAL SUCCESS

On Saint Patrick’s Day, 1947, Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. (now CAE) was founded by Ken Patrick. He was a retired RCAF officer who wanted to “create something Canadian and take advantage of a war-trained team that was extremely innovative and very technology-intensive”. The company eventually moved into civilian and military flight simulators, and never looked back.

            “We have grown to be a global leader with over 13,000 employees in about 250 sites in 40 countries,” Hébert said. “We remain homegrown, but we are able to compete with industry giants around the world. When customers worldwide choose CAE, they’re choosing Canada and our vibrant aerospace sector, which is something we can be proud of. As Canada’s largest defence and security contractor, our mission is to make the world safer. We support national security and sovereignty for allied nations, and our technology and training help bring men and women in uniform home safely. That’s an immense responsibility and it drives us day in and day out.”

BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH FAcT

            On May 29, 2024. CAE’s SkyAlyne joint venture with KF Aerospace was awarded a $11.2B CAD, 25-year contract for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. The two were a logical choice to run FAcT, given that CAE and KF Aerospace deliver all phases of RCAF pilot training through the NATO Flying Training in Canada program managed by CAE, and the Contracted Flying Training and Support program managed by KF Aerospace.

            France Hébert sees FAcT as yet another ground-breaking opportunity for CAE. “Unique among Canada and its allies, FAcT marks the first time where, within a single program, we will deliver a unified training system that prepares pilots, air combat system operators, and airborne electronic sensor operators to full operational functionality,” she told CDR. “FAcT will also introduce a range of advanced training technologies that will allow the Canadian Armed Forces to achieve successful training outcomes faster with a smaller number of instructors. It’s a significant moment for CAE, and it will really allow us to showcase our commitment to excellence and innovation, and to win other opportunities of this nature worldwide.”

AEROSPACE INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Like other key players in the aviation sector, CAE is a strong advocate for Canada having a strong aerospace and defence industrial strategy. In recent months the federal government has been discussing this topic seriously, after years of relative inaction. “We are seeing a lot of engagement and interest from the government, which is really positive news,” said Hébert. “CAE has long supported having a strong aerospace and defence strategy in Canada, because we really want to grow this sector.”

            As far as she’s concerned, the time to implement such a strategy is now. “Recent events such as COVID and the Ukrainian war have reminded us of the extent of which our domestic security relies on reliable access to specialized goods, and the vulnerability of many critical global supply chains,” Hébert said. “These events have highlighted the challenges of maintaining our national industrial resilience and the relative fragility of our Canadian position. This is especially true when we think of maintaining critical military systems and quickly training our forces to use them. We can’t rely on other countries to provide this if they are also facing similar security challenges. So, Canada has to be ready to do this for ourselves, and CAE is willing to help make it happen.”

            After all, “Canada used to be called the Aerodrome of Democracy, and we were able to really ramp up and support our allies in difficult times,” Hébert concluded. “We can play that role again today. We have a strong aerospace and defence industry, and our training programs

can once again support the security of Canada and our allies. We have the airspace, we have the industry, we have the workforce. We have the capabilities to really be able to contribute to Canada and to allied nations in aerospace and defence right now, when it is needed most.”

James Careless is CDR’s Ottawa Bureau Chief