Québec Premier Jean Charest and Line Beauchamp, Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports, today announced a government investment of $5.05 million in a new aerospace training laboratory. The cutting-edge facility will help give Québec firms working in aerospace -- an emerging sector -- a competitive edge by aligning classroom learning with industrial realities. The investment includes an immediate influx of $3.5 million to develop the lab, and a further $1.55 million distributed over five years to help meet operating costs.

Known as the Laboratoire d'enseignement des systèmes intégrés en aérospatiale du Québec (integrated aerospace systems teaching lab -- LESIAQ), the infrastructure will be housed in a hangar belonging to the Commission scolaire de Montréal. The space is large enough to accommodate two authentic aircraft test platforms in addition to training facilities.

Equipment from a Challenger 300 business jet and a Bell 427 helicopter, respectively worth $20 million and $250,000, has been graciously donated by Bombardier Aerospace and Bell Helicopter Textron.

The laboratory is the joint initiative of Polytechnique Montréal, École de technologie supérieure de Montréal (ETS), Concordia University, McGill University, Université de Sherbrooke and Université Laval. The facilities will also be available to high schools and colleges that offer vocational and technical aerospace training.

"The LESIAQ is a unique training tool, as innovative as it is inclusive," Polytechnique Chief Executive Officer Christophe Guy said at this morning's announcement. "Few universities in the world -- and certainly none in North America -- have such sophisticated teaching laboratories, largely due to their prohibitive cost." He added: "Given that its equipment wasn't specifically designed for educational purposes but for a real-world context, the facility will provide concrete, hands-on learning. Not only will the lab immeasurably enhance the educational experience, it will also serve as valuable asset to industry."

In summer 2008, Polytechnique launched Québec's first aerospace engineering program. The institution, whose faculty already included a number of aerospace experts, was also able to build on its strong industry partnerships. Training with the Institut d'innovation et de conception en aérospatiale de Polytechnique (IICAP), the NSERC/J.-Armand Bombardier/Pratt & Whitney Canada Industrial Research Chair in Integrated Design Toward Efficient Aircraft (IDEA), or through framework agreements with such aerospace giants as Safran and Thales, students in the program are at the forefront of aircraft design, working toward the greener, more efficient aviation of tomorrow.

There are currently 150 highly qualified students in the program, whose first graduates are expected to enter the job market in May 2012. Nonetheless, as of summer 2011, some 90 handpicked students can put their talents to work for you as interns.