Transport Canada has announced $105 million in funding for three Nav Canada projects to help upgrade aviation safety and efficiency across the country. The first project will provide new ATC technology to improve the reliability, safety, and performance of Canada's air transportation system, especially in the event of extreme weather and in remote communities. A second project would implement traffic management services to monitor and control drone operations in Canadian airspace.
To respond to increased air traffic demand, the third proposed project is upgrading the technology and infrastructure at four major international airports in Canada: Montreal-Trudeau, Toronto Pearson, Calgary, and Vancouver. This project will assist in reducing flying time, decrease aircraft fuel consumption, increase the movement of cargo, and provide greater overall efficiencies.
"These three Nav Canada projects will improve the efficiency and flow of air cargo in Canada by reducing bottlenecks at the major hubs which cause delays across the entire aviation network," said Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra. "A more efficient movement of goods is beneficial to Canada's economy and to Canadians from coast-to-coast."
Nav Canada president and CEO Raymond G. Bohn added, "These important investments will accelerate innovation and deliver significant safety, environmental and economic benefits through a seamless, space-enabled, digitally enhanced air navigation system to address future growth in air travel and provide greater value to Canadians."