Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction has started on the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace at Calgary International Airport, a purpose-built facility that will train pilots and cabin crew.
The centre is part of the YYC AeroNex development project on a site directly south of the YYC Calgary Airport terminal. Calgary Airports will build the facility, which is scheduled to open in 2028.
The 135,000-square-foot facility will be designed, developed and operated by CAE. It will include eight full-flight simulators, with capacity for expansion, as well as cabin trainers and digital training tools.
The facility will provide initial and recurrent training for Boeing 737MAX, 737NG and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, as well as the De Havilland Dash 8-400.
Calgary Airports will invest $40 million in construction and development of the centre and will lease just over half of the facility. A second tenant is expected to be announced later this year.
Additional funding includes $3.8 million from the Alberta government for infrastructure and $6.9 million through the Opportunities Calgary Investment Fund for the Aerospace Workforce Development Grant and Aerospace Innovation and Training Grant.
The centre is the second major facility announced as part of YYC AeroNex, a real estate development initiative focused on supporting the aviation industry in the Calgary region.
YYC AeroNex launched in 2025 with the announcement of a Lufthansa Technik aircraft engine repair and test cell facility, which broke ground in June 2025.
The broader project is supported by a $172-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and a $21.1-million grant from the Alberta government for infrastructure upgrades.
The CAE facility is expected to support WestJet’s workforce as well as personnel from other carriers, while providing training and educational opportunities for future commercial aviators.
