Thompson Unlimited brought its winter weather testing initiative to the Paris Air Show in France in June as part of its effort to build on it recent success through the key role it played it in landing the new Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education Center (CanETREC) and Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research Inc. (GlacIer) in April.
The Paris Air Show is the largest air aviation show in the world.
Thompson Unlimited is the Vale Inco-initiated community economic development corporation charged with diversifying the city's economic base. Roxie Binns,
development co-ordinator for Thompson Unlimited, joined a Canadian delegation including provincial ministers, the National Research Council of Canada and representatives of Canada's aviation industry.
"We have worked long and hard to bring an increased level of aerospace business to Thompson and our efforts have now paid off in a significant manner," said Binns.
"And our debut was successful. We did our homework in advance, contacting trade ministers and inviting them to our booth. Through the National Research Council and our own Competitiveness and Trade Minister Andrew Swan, we arranged meetings with businesses and organizations. One result of this advance work was that we had organizations seeking us out."
Winter weather testing in Thompson started out slowly in the early 1980s with vehicle manufacturers testing one or two units a year. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors testers would park in the Mystery Lake Hotel parking lot and do their cold soaks, recalled Volker Beckmann, who in the late 1990s chaired the Winter Weather Testing Committee of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce for three years.
Typical cold climate testing for vehicles aside from cold soaks, includes leaving the vehicles outside overnight, starting them from cold and measuring engine performance, heater function and interior control function. Engineers then look for water leaks and how ice affects components such as locks and door handles. Snow ingestion involves driving in a simulated blizzard for 100 kilometres to test how snow accumulation on the frontal area of the vehicle affects engine performance.
In the mid-1990s, a Cold Weather Testing Association was formed locally, which included local hotel and car dealers, who travelled to the United States to promote winter testing in Thompson.
In the late 1990s, John Kelleher, the local Ford dealer, invested in property and signed a 10-year lease with Ford, marking the first formal investment and agreement of any kind that led to a testing industry.
Ford now operates a cold chamber in a former aircraft hangar at the Thompson Airport, along with a specially built track near the Norplex Pool, as its Thompson Extreme Cold Weather Test Facility.
Back in March 2001, the federal and provincial governments funded a feasibility study through the Economic Development Partnership Agreement to analyze the cold weather testing industry, the requirements for the development of the industry in Thompson, current testing being done in Thompson, employment opportunities and long term strategies as the city wanted to promote itself as a prime destination for companies wanting to test their products in a real-world cold environment.
The study was initially budgeted to cost $77,000 with equal shares of $34,650 being contributed by both levels of government and the remaining $7,700 to be contributed by the Thompson Chamber of Commerce and the City of Thompson.
No permanent facility wound up being constructed as a result of that work.
Beckmann also points out that winter testing in Thompson involves more than cold weather. He worked with snowmobile sled testers at Mystery Mountain Ski Club for six years who wanted to test in November. "Racers didn't want cold. Just snow and ice.It became obvious that there was more than just cars interested. Early and late season testing would bring sleds who just wanted snow. Not cold," Beckmann said.
"Today winter weather testing in Thompson is truly evolving into a major and world-class industry," said Mark Matiasek, general manager of Thompson Unlimited. "Our first major commitment came with Ford, when it developed its centre at the Thompson Airport. We are now planning for a permanent facility at the airport. And while we continue to grow our successes in the automotive industry, it is appropriate to expand into the aerospace industry,
especially with the recent announcement of our jet engine test facility."
For years, automotive manufacturers have known Thompson is the best place in the world to test their products under severe weather conditions, said Swan.
"The recent decision by Pratt & Whitney USA and Rolls Royce UK, two of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, to test their products in Thompson cements the city's international reputation," said Swan "All Manitobans can take pride in knowing that much of the world's fleet of next-generation jetliners will be flying with engine models tested in Thompson."
Thompson is a favoured test site for several reasons. It has ideal climate conditions, all required infrastructure, and is a relatively low-cost location that is accessible by road, rail and air. "The consistent cold temperature, remoteness for maintaining confidentiality and friendly people of Thompson make it the ideal place for cold testing," said Naomichi Aoki, product development, technical
operations director for Honda Canada.
"These developments are not by accident," said Curtis Ross, executive director of the Thompson Regional Airport Authority. "There have been dozens of people
who have done research, been part of delegations and proposal writing to attract new testers. This is in addition to the dozens who have ensured that all the needs of the current testers are met, securing their return each winter."
It will continue to take the dedication and commitment of all sectors of Thompson to continue to grow this industry, said Mayor Tim Johnston.
"The very professional way in which Thompson Unlimited presented the city and winter weather testing to the Paris Air Show is just one example of that commitment," he added.
In mid-April, Thompson Unlimited was a key player in getting the $40-million cold Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education Center (CanETREC) to land at Ospwagan Lake. The facility is scheduled to be operational by August 2010 and will be the world's most advanced, large engine, cold weather testing and research facility.
operating year-round, CanETREC will specialize in supporting engine icing certification and research and development of new, more efficient and advanced
aerospace designs. In addition this testing technology will be applicable to other sectors such as the bus and automotive manufacturing industry.
The facility is expected to generate between five and 15 permanent full-time jobs and as many as 35 during eight-week icing test runs, says Joe Czech communications co-ordinator with Communication Services Manitoba.
The 20 to 30 temporary employees during testing periods "would live in Thompson on a temporary basis during the various activities," says Czech. The exact number will depend on "what test and research activities are undertaken," he noted.
MDs Aero Support Corporation of Ottawa will manage the facility, which is being built by the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research Inc. (GlacIer). The facility is a new joint venture between Rolls-Royce Canada and Pratt & Whitney. The National Research Council of Canada will supply, own and
operate the icing system in GlacIer. It will also be partnering with CanETREC.
The facility's geographic location benefits from Thompson's consistently cold weather and an expanded window for testing. During off-peak testing periods, CanETREC will focus on research and education to drive new aerospace designs. Over the long-term, the facility will expand its research infrastructure and develop expertise in noise and emission reduction, and alternative fuels and lubricants.
The facility will also offer a wide variety of aeronautical sciences and aviation maintenance training programs through partnerships with post-secondary institutions.
With large-engine testing accounting for 22 per cent of annual global icing certification business and the aerospace industry conservatively estimating the need for 21,000 engines, including maintenance routines, CanETREC is poised to become a world leader in cold weather testing and certification and research.
