The Provincial Government's ability to attract aviation-related investment to the province received a major boost today with the announcement of a training partnership between College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and Lufthansa Technical Training.

The partnership and resulting training program will serve a select niche in the aerospace and defence industry. Students registered in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician program at CNA have the opportunity to obtain European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, in addition to the Transport Canada certification. Lufthansa Technical Training assists and supports the development of the EASA conform training program and the certifying process. The courses will be administered by local instructors at the Gander campus.

"The Provincial Government is extremely pleased with this partnership between Lufthansa Technical Training and the Gander campus of the College of the North Atlantic," said Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Business. "Having highly skilled people with dual certification enhances our capabilities and increases opportunities for attracting new aviation related investment to the province. Working with a world-renowned organization like Lufthansa Technical Training will only enhance the profile of our aircraft maintenance capabilities to a global market. Our government is committed to ensuring that our workforce has the best training and skills possible which in turn will help the Newfoundland and Labrador aerospace and defence industry grow and prosper."

"We are excited about what this partnership will provide to our students," said Honourable Bruce Hollett, President of CNA. "This training program will be the first of its kind by ensuring graduates have both Transport Canada and EASA certification. As a result of this initiative our graduates will be even better prepared for employment in the aerospace and defence sector."

"We are delighted to collaborate with the renowned College of the North Atlantic in this initiative, particularly in the Town of Gander, a community with a long and proud aviation heritage," said Christoph Meyerrose, CEO of Lufthansa Technical Training. "This partnership will be a milestone in our strategy to serve the North American training market with innovative qualification products, and in particular to expand the qualification system for students in Atlantic Canada and beyond. We are convinced that with the envisaged program, the College of the North Atlantic will perfectly serve the current and future demand of the aerospace industry."

Along with the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Bombardier Aerospace is also contributing to the initiative.