EN
FRAéroSalon: a Complete Introduction to the Aerospace World
Written by: Jean-Pierre Bonin
Photos courtesy of Jean-Pierre Bonin
A three-day event was held by the École nationale d’aérotechnique (ÉNA) in Saint-Hubert with the cooperation of the City of Longueuil, on May 31st and June 1st and 2nd giving a most complete introduction to the aerospace world. May 31st was a "Discovery day" intended for high school students. All the major players (Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Bombardier and tutti quanti) were on site to welcome the students and present their contribution to the aerospace domain as well as give information on the great needs for personnel at all levels.
ÉNA, hosting the AéroSalonalso gave insight to the formations offered such as Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Avionics Technology, and Aerospace Engineering Technology. Info booths were also available to learn about high school technical programs and university level engineering program.
Static displays included the impressive aircrafts collection of ÉNA plus various Flight Schools, Charter Airlines (Air Inuit and locally based Chrono Aviation), private vintage aircrafts (Navion, Harvard, Stearman…) and some helos both civil and military.
This event was held to promote aerospace job opportunities and academic formations. At the moment AéroSalon was being held, AeroEmploi (AeroEmploi.ca) was listing 2 200 jobs openings (mostly in Canada, even some overseas by Canada based companies).
Show opened with a CH-146 Griffon (honour given where honour is due, ÉNA is close to the 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron base). Aerial displays gave the final touch each day with the Canadian Forces (CF) Snowbirds 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, Canadian Forces CF18 Demo Team, the Northern Stars Aeroteam (3 Pitts). A series of individual performances included Thom Richard in his P-40 Warhawk «American Dream», Bill Culberson in a Canadair CT-133 Silver Star « Black Nights », Martin Hivon in his Yak-55M. Show included a unique duo with a Nanchang CJ-6 (Dan Fortin) and an H-101 Salto aerobatic glider (Mario Hamel). A spectators favorite definitely was a water bombing demo by a CL-415.
With 17 000 visitors, the event was a success, sunny three days helping for sure.
