Spar Aerospace
Encyclopedia
SPAR Aerospace was a Canadian aerospace company. It produced equipment for the Canadian Space Agency to be used in cooperation with NASA
's Space Shuttle
program, most notably the Canadarm remote manipulator system.
It is today a part of MacDonald Dettwiler
as MD Robotics, a subsidiary of its MDA Space Missions
division. As part of MDA, it developed Canadarm2 for the International Space Station
.
’s Special Products division (i.e. Alouette 1
) and Avro Canada
's Applied Research unit (i.e. CF-105 Arrow
). In 1967 SPAR was bought out by its senior management and in 1967 shares were issued to the public. SPAR Aerospace Ltd. expanded into Western Canada by taking over CAE Aviation Services, formerly Northwest Industries (NWI) Limited
in Edmonton, Alberta. Shortly after, SPAR's robotics division located in Brampton, Ontario
was acquired by MacDonald Dettwiler
, while the MRO division in Edmonton was acquired by L-3 Communications
.
SPAR Aerospace Ltd. maintained the Canadian Air Force's CC-130 Hercules for several decades, including performing of the Center Wing and Outer Wing replacement programs, Progressive Structural Inspection (PSI) program, Tanker program, Avionics Upgrade Program (AUP) and Hercules Airframe and Wiring System Refurbishment (HAWSR) programs.
SPAR's major projects included the complete overhaul of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
's 40-year-old C-130 Hercules
aircraft. Other customers included the Royal Norwegian Air Force
, United States Coast Guard
, and Greece
's Hellenic Air Force
. SPAR performed several avionics upgrades and a Depot Level Inspection and Repair (DLIR) for the Canadian Forces Air Command
CL-41 Tutor aircraft flown by the Snowbirds
acrobatic team.
SPAR also constructed satellites: Anik-E, Olympus 1s (L-SAT), and Radarsat 1.
SPAR's Edmonton facilities and workforce (both the City Center and the International Airport locations) were permanently shut down at the end of summer 2009 after over 4 decades of production and service.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
program, most notably the Canadarm remote manipulator system.
It is today a part of MacDonald Dettwiler
MacDonald Dettwiler
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. is a Richmond, British Columbia-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....
as MD Robotics, a subsidiary of its MDA Space Missions
MDA Space Missions
MDA Space Missions is an operating unit of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, comprising the following wholly owned subsidiaries:* Alliance Spacesystems, a space robotics company based in Pasadena, California, Boulder, Colorado and Signal Hill, California....
division. As part of MDA, it developed Canadarm2 for the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
.
History
The Edmonton based company L-3 Communications/SPAR (Special Products and Applied Research) Aerospace Ltd. was formed by the merger of de Havilland CanadaDe Havilland Canada
The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. 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 1
Alouette 1
Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or the United States. Occasionally, Alouette 1 is misrepresented as the third satellite successfully put in orbit, rather than being from the third country to have one of its own in space,...
) and Avro Canada
Avro Canada
Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...
's Applied Research unit (i.e. CF-105 Arrow
CF-105 Arrow
The 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...
). In 1967 SPAR was bought out by its senior management and in 1967 shares were issued to the public. SPAR Aerospace Ltd. expanded into Western Canada by taking over CAE Aviation Services, formerly Northwest Industries (NWI) Limited
CAE (company)
CAE Inc. is a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide. The company has annual revenues in excess of CAD $1.6 billion, with manufacturing operations and training...
in Edmonton, Alberta. Shortly after, SPAR's robotics division located in Brampton, Ontario
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton 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 municipalities, with an average...
was acquired by MacDonald Dettwiler
MacDonald Dettwiler
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. is a Richmond, British Columbia-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 Communications
L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space, and navigation products. Its customers include...
.
SPAR Aerospace Ltd. maintained the Canadian Air Force's CC-130 Hercules for several decades, including performing of the Center Wing and Outer Wing replacement programs, Progressive Structural Inspection (PSI) program, Tanker program, Avionics Upgrade Program (AUP) and Hercules Airframe and Wiring System Refurbishment (HAWSR) programs.
SPAR's major projects included the complete overhaul of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
's 40-year-old C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft. Other customers included the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The 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 . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
, United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Hellenic Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to 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...
. SPAR performed several avionics upgrades and a Depot Level Inspection and Repair (DLIR) for the Canadian Forces Air Command
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
CL-41 Tutor aircraft flown by the Snowbirds
Snowbirds
Officially known as the Royal Canadian Air Force's 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". The squadron is based at...
acrobatic team.
SPAR also constructed satellites: Anik-E, Olympus 1s (L-SAT), and Radarsat 1.
SPAR's Edmonton facilities and workforce (both the City Center and the International Airport locations) were permanently shut down at the end of summer 2009 after over 4 decades of production and service.
Current Facilities
- Mississauga, OntarioMississauga, OntarioMississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
- Trenton, OntarioTrenton, OntarioTrenton 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
- Montreal, Quebec