Cascade Aerospace Inc. has conducted the first test flight of a foreign military aircraft from its base in Abbotsford.
Cascade has been working on the maintenance and modernization of the Mexican Air Force C-130K program since 2014, and the flight marks a significant milestone for the B.C. aerospace industry.
Over the past year, engineering teams at Cascade have designed and installed a complete upgrade to the cockpit avionic system – including the integration of the advanced digital Rockwell Collins Flight 2 avionics suite to meet 21st century navigation and communication requirements.
This aircraft, one of two currently in Cascade’s hangar, has also had a new auxiliary power unit (APU) installed, and a wing availability and sustainment program conducted on it.
Operational and technical training for Mexican Air Force personnel was conducted in Abbotsford using the onsite Rockwell Collins Flight2 procedural training simulator.
“This test flight will lead to the delivery of a modernized and updated aircraft to the Mexican government at a fraction of the cost of a new aircraft,” said Ben Boehm, Cascade executive vice-president.