SPAR Aerospace, a Canadian aerospace company, led the development of the Canadarm for the
NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program. NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for...
Space shuttleThe Space Shuttle, part of the Space Transportation System , is a spacecraft operated by NASA for orbital human spaceflight missions. It began operations in the 1980s and is scheduled to be retired from service in 2010 after 134 launches...
program.
The Edmonton based company L-3 Communications/SPAR (Special Products and Applied Research) Aerospace Ltd. was formed by the merger of
de Havilland CanadaThe de Havilland Canada company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
’s Special Products division (i.e.
Alouette 1Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or the United States. Occasionally, Alouette I is misrepresented as the third satellite successfully put in orbit, rather than being from the third country ever to do so, but numerous...
) and
Avro CanadaAvro Aircraft Limited was a Canadian aircraft manufacturing company, that was in business from 1945–62. The company was known for their innovative designs, including the Avro Arrow fighter.- Origins :...
's Applied Research unit (i.e.
CF-105 ArrowThe Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft, designed and built by Avro Aircraft Limited in Malton, Ontario, Canada, as the culmination of a design study that began in 1953...
). SPAR Aerospace Ltd. expanded into Western Canada by taking over
CAE Aviation ServicesCAE Inc. is a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide...
in Edmonton, Alberta.
Discussion
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SPAR Aerospace, a Canadian aerospace company, led the development of the Canadarm for the
NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program. NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for...
Space shuttleThe Space Shuttle, part of the Space Transportation System , is a spacecraft operated by NASA for orbital human spaceflight missions. It began operations in the 1980s and is scheduled to be retired from service in 2010 after 134 launches...
program.
History
The Edmonton based company L-3 Communications/SPAR (Special Products and Applied Research) Aerospace Ltd. was formed by the merger of
de Havilland CanadaThe de Havilland Canada company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
’s Special Products division (i.e.
Alouette 1Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or the United States. Occasionally, Alouette I is misrepresented as the third satellite successfully put in orbit, rather than being from the third country ever to do so, but numerous...
) and
Avro CanadaAvro Aircraft Limited was a Canadian aircraft manufacturing company, that was in business from 1945–62. The company was known for their innovative designs, including the Avro Arrow fighter.- Origins :...
's Applied Research unit (i.e.
CF-105 ArrowThe Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft, designed and built by Avro Aircraft Limited in Malton, Ontario, Canada, as the culmination of a design study that began in 1953...
). SPAR Aerospace Ltd. expanded into Western Canada by taking over
CAE Aviation ServicesCAE Inc. is a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide...
in Edmonton, Alberta. Shortly after, SPAR's robotics division located in
Brampton, OntarioBrampton is located in Southern Ontario and is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing...
was acquired by
MacDonald DettwilerMacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. is a Richmond based, Canadian aerospace, information services and products company, employing over 3000 people throughout Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, under the MDA brand name....
, while the MRO division in Edmonton was acquired by
L-3 CommunicationsL-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics and ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space and navigation products. Its customers include the...
.
SPAR's major projects currently include the complete overhaul of the
Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand components of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s...
's 40-year-old
C-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft...
aircraft which will allow them to fly the aircraft until 2012. Other customers include the
Royal Norwegian Air ForceThe Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . Six hundred personnel are also serving their one-year national service in the Air Force...
,
United States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. It is unique among the military branches in that it has a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set...
, and
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
's
Hellenic Air ForceThe Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world...
. SPAR does minor avionics work for the
Canadian Forces Air CommandCanadian Forces Air Command , also known as the Canadian Air Force, is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. AIRCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Air Force , which was Canada's air force from its foundation in 1924 until February 1, 1968...
CL-41 Tutor aircraft flown by the
SnowbirdsOfficially known as the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds are Canada's military aerobatics or air show flight demonstration team whose purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel"...
acrobatic team.
Current Facilities
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga , incorporated in 1974, is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and part of the Greater Toronto Area. With a population of 668,549 as of the 2006 census, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each...
- Trenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
- Venice, Italy