Carleton has formed an agreement with NAV Canada to create an Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Cornwall, according to university president Roseann Runte.
NAV Canada represents Canada’s Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), a fully privatized corporation that manages and directs over 12 million aircraft movements throughout the entirety of Canadian airspace and most of the Atlantic Ocean.
Jonathan Bagg, NAV Canada’s public relations officer, said the company is excited to have this new partnership with Carleton.
“[Carleton] has a highly reputable and well-established aerospace program already,” Bagg said. “As NAV Canada has one of the safest, most efficient air traffic control systems in the world, we’re very excited to see the enriching developments come from both students and our facilities.”
Carleton’s renown as a research hub for engineering and aerospace design is grounded in its Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering program. This research is comprised of UAV systems, space robotics, advanced propulsion mechanisms and flight simulation facilities, and more.
Bagg said Cornwall has many supporters of this joint effort and have been looking for higher learning facilities in science-oriented programs for some time.
The NAV Centre in Cornwall already exists, and there are plans to teach Carleton research using the building and ANSP’s training protocols onsite.
“The amenities are there, we will be creating new courses and training to share in Carleton’s and NAV’s expertise. There will be a focus on pilot training and air traffic management,” Bagg said.
Runte said she was approached by members of Cornwall’s city council two years ago with hopes of constructing a new campus in the city.
Runte said Carleton lacked the appropriate funds and student demand for the proposed project to justify the building. The NAV Canada partnership developed as a result, she said.
“There will not be a new campus. However, the NAV Canada Centre that already exists is optimal for the collaborative program and research,” Runte said.
She said the development is primarily focused on the aerospace program, but there are also plans to incorporate Carleton’s Masters in Aboriginal Policy with First Nations groups in the local community as a means of forging unions between Ottawa and the Cornwall area.
