Alberta Aviation, Aerospace & Defence Council

10/15/2026

𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻.

AAAD is sharing this Government of Canada opportunity for members and partners working in drones, RPAS, aerospace, defence, enabling technologies, and dual-use innovation.

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, through the Defence Investment Agency, have launched Round 2 of the W8703-270055 Request for Supply Arrangement. This opportunity is intended to help establish a pre-qualified supplier pool for Canadian companies developing drones and related systems and technologies.

📅 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 6 November 2026 at 14:00 EST

Review the official Government of Canada opportunity below 👇

We’ve launched a second Request for Supply Arrangement to accelerate the development, testing and production of uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Canada has strong expertise in aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, sensors, software and secure communications.

This competitive process will establish a pool of Canadian companies and partners capable of developing drones, or demonstrating and scaling key components of drones, including associated systems and technologies.

These are the areas we are looking to include:
• low-cost tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones;
• uncrewed ground vehicles for logistics and complex terrain;
• uncrewed maritime surface and underwater systems;
• low-cost, low-collateral counter-drone interceptors;
• standardized drone am******on and explosive payloads; and
• deep precision strike systems.

If you have not been preselected thought the first RFSA, submit your application by November 6, 2026.
https://ow.ly/Ls1X50ZW5qz

10/14/2026

Building Alberta’s aviation workforce is a shared responsibility.

Training providers can help build foundational skills. Workforce programs can create connections and opportunities. And employers bring something that can’t be replicated in a classroom: a real-world view of the aviation industry.

But getting involved doesn’t have to mean a major commitment.

Whether your organization can offer an internship, host a site visit, provide job-shadowing, share industry insights, participate in a career conversation or simply open the door to let emerging talent see aviation in action, every opportunity can make a difference.

By working together, industry, educators and workforce partners can create stronger pathways from learning to experience to employment.

Have an opportunity to share your workplace or industry expertise with emerging aviation talent? Email [email protected] to get involved as an Aviation Fusion partner today.

Elevate Aviation | Elevate Aviation Learning Centre | Careers | Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace | YourAlberta (Government of Alberta)

10/13/2026

A Calgary manufacturer making its next move.

Based in Calgary, Levys Machine Works is a precision machining company serving industrial customers with complex, high-quality manufactured components.

Building on its manufacturing expertise, Levy’s is making a strategic move into aerospace and defence manufacturing, while also digitizing its shop-floor, quality, planning and business processes to improve efficiency, traceability, scalability and competitiveness.

This evolution reflects the opportunities for established Alberta manufacturers to build on their existing capabilities, embrace new technologies and expand into new areas of the aerospace and defence supply chain.

We’re pleased to have Levy’s Machine Works in the AAAD network as they build on their manufacturing expertise and take on new opportunities in aerospace and defence.

Become a member today using the link in our bio.

10/07/2026

Training can provide a strong foundation, but there’s no substitute for experiencing the aviation workplace firsthand.

That’s where employers can make a difference.

Through Aviation Fusion, we’re looking to connect emerging talent with Alberta aviation employers who can help provide meaningful exposure to the industry, whether through internships, workplace visits, job shadowing, mentorship, or other hands-on opportunities.

For employers, it’s an opportunity to connect with emerging talent, showcase your organization and help shape the next generation of Alberta’s aviation workforce.

For participants, it’s a chance to see where their skills can take them.

Want to be part of creating hands-on aviation experiences? Send us a DM, or email [email protected] to get started on getting your organization involved with Aviation Fusion today.

Elevate Aviation | Elevate Aviation Learning Centre | Careers | Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace | YourAlberta (Government of Alberta)

10/05/2026

Creating pathways into aviation starts with making the industry more accessible.

Elevate Aviation is a workforce development organization strengthening the aviation talent pipeline through education, career development, mentorship, leadership development, and workplace culture solutions.

Founded in Edmonton in 2015, Elevate Aviation has grown its reach across Canada, creating opportunities for people to explore, enter, and advance within the aviation industry. Through initiatives such as the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre, Elevate delivers programs that support learners and professionals from early exposure and foundational training through to career development and leadership.

We’re also pleased to have Elevate Aviation as a partner in AAAD’s Aviation Fusion initiative, working together to strengthen connections between employers, students, and emerging talent across Alberta’s aviation industry.

Building a strong aviation workforce takes collaboration across the sector, and we’re proud to have Elevate Aviation as an AAAD member and Aviation Fusion partner as we work together to create more pathways into aviation careers.

Become a member today! Link in bio.

10/01/2026

For a small aviation employer, bringing on an entry-level employee can require significant time and resources. That’s where foundational programming can help.

Elevate Aviation’s BASIC program gives participants exposure to essential aviation workplace knowledge and skills before they enter the workforce.

While employer onboarding will always be important, having some foundational knowledge already in place can help make the transition into the workplace smoother for both employers and new talent.

The next BASIC program starts November 2.

Interested in learning more or know someone who may be a good fit? Contact [email protected] to get started.

Elevate Aviation Learning Centre | Careers | Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace | YourAlberta (Government of Alberta)

09/30/2026

Today is an opportunity to acknowledge the truths of residential schools, honour survivors, and remember the children who never returned home.

Truth and Reconciliation asks us to do more than remember for a day though. It calls on us to listen to Indigenous voices, learn from the history of this country, and recognize the responsibilities that come with that knowledge.

At AAAD, we take this opportunity to reflect on the importance of listening, learning, and building respectful relationships across Alberta’s aviation, aerospace and defence community. As a provincial industry association, we recognize that understanding the histories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples is an important part of building respectful relationships within the communities where our sector operates.

Learn more about the cultures, histories, languages, and perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada through the resources linked in our bio.

Every child matters.

09/28/2026

This week, we’re pleased to spotlight Canada and their Skunk Works team, a valued member of Alberta’s aerospace and defence community.

Based in Calgary, the team brings specialized expertise in autonomy, uncrewed systems, vehicle control and mission-management software, developing technologies for increasingly complex defence environments.

A great example is its Autonomous Swarm Hunt project, supported through Canada’s IDEaS program. The Calgary team is exploring how autonomous systems can work together to detect and respond to threats, with applications spanning counter-UAS, Arctic operations and NORAD modernization.

For Alberta, this work showcases the province’s growing strength in advanced software, autonomy and defence technology, along with connecting local expertise to some of the most pressing challenges facing Canada’s aerospace and defence sector.

We’re proud to feature Lockheed Martin Canada’s Skunk Works team in Calgary who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace and defence.

Become a member today.

09/22/2026

Our Executive Director, Kathryn Ambler, is joining Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) TOMORROW for the Alberta AAM Roundtable!

Kathryn will be providing an introduction to AAAD, our role as Alberta’s aviation, aerospace and defence industry voice and connector, and sharing what’s ahead for the organization, including our involvement in Advanced Air Mobility. We’re looking forward to putting AAAD’s perspective into the conversation and hearing directly from Alberta’s aviation, aerospace and AAM community about the biggest opportunities for collaboration.

Register here: https://canadianaam.com/events/caam-q3-2026-provincial-aam-roundtables/

09/21/2026

This week, we’re pleased to spotlight Industrial Machine Inc. (IMI), a third-generation, family-owned Alberta company with more than 45 years of experience serving municipalities, contractors, and industry across Western Canada.

IMI specializes in industrial asphalt and snow removal equipment and is also Alberta’s Zamboni dealer. Their capabilities include street sweeping, snow and ice management, road maintenance, hydrovacs, forestry and vegetation management, and truck bodies, supported by parts, service, technical support, and operator training.

The team brings valuable industrial expertise and specialized capabilities to Alberta’s broader ecosystem, helping keep critical infrastructure and operations moving.

Thank you for being a part of the AAAD community.

Want to join the community? Become a member today. https://www.albertaaviationcouncil.com/membership