Discovery Air Defence Services

Discovery Air participates in Martin Baker Ejection Seat Course

On November 26th – 30th seven Discovery Air employees participated in a Martin Baker Ejection Seat Course held in Bagotville, Quebec. The course was delivered by Mick Cameron, Senior After Sales Executive at Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd. Direct training from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is an investment in our Maintenance Team. The ejection seat is obviously an important piece of kit for the safety of the Alpha Jet aircrew, so increasing our in-house knowledge and experience across our operating bases is great for the whole operation.

Discovery Air participates in Martin Baker Ejection Seat Course
Discovery Air announces three year extension of Combat Support Standing Offers for interim contracted airborne training services

Discovery Air Inc. (“Discovery Air”) announced on September 28, 2012 that the Government of Canada has extended our Combat Support Standing Offers for a further three year term commencing in June 2013 and ending in June 2016.

DA announces three year extension of Combat Support Standing Offers for iCATS
2000 Hours in the Alpha Jet

During the week of June 11th, 2012, Dave “Spiff” Whittal completed his 2000th hour flying in the Alpha Jet. He achieved this milestone during Maple Flag, an International Exercise that takes place in Cold Lake, AB. Spiff joined Discovery Air Defence Services in 2005, and his commitment and skills have been essential to our success. Discovery Air Defence Services would like to congratulate Spiff for his achievements and thank him for his lasting commitment to the program. Jeff ‘Beck’ Beckett on the left is presenting Spiff with his patch. Experience Matters.

2000 Hours in the Alpha Jet
Discovery Air Defence Services Milestone

Over 30,000 hours flying Combat Support to the Canadian Forces.

Experience matters.

Discovery Air Defence Services Milestone
Discovery Air Defence Services completes busy Winter season

Discovery Air Defence Services (DADS) completed a successful 2012 Winter deployment season by providing Contracted Airborne Training Services for the Canadian Military in various southern locations. Proving our experience below the border this winter resulted in safe and efficient training for Fighter Weapons Instructor Students, Fighter Pilot Students, Forward Air Controller Students, and Navy Task Group Exercise Sailors. Pictured here by Corporal Pierre Habib are four of DADS' Alpha Jets led by a Canadian CF-18 Hornet over Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas during exercise Chum Ex. This is an annual joint International exercise lead by the USAF’s 93rd Sqn. at Homestead Air Reserve Base.

DADS completes busy Winter season
A new milestone at Discovery Air Defence Services

Congratulations go out to Dave "Dag" Cameron upon hitting the 2000 hour milestone in the Alpha Jet. Dag is a Fighter Weapons Graduate and flew the CF-18 prior to the Alpha Jet.

The Discovery Air Defence Services Team has over 100,000 fighter hours to their credit. Experience Matters.

A new milestone at DADS
DADS completes mission in Burlington, Vermont

Discovery Air Defence Services (DADS) completed a mission July 18th – 22nd in Burlington, Vermont where our Alpha Jets flew as part of a Large Force Exercise (LFE) in support of 425 Sqn CF18s alongside United States Air National Guard F16s, F15s, C21s and United States Navy F/A18 Super Hornets. All missions were large package Offensive Counter Air scenarios that included Electronic Warfare (EW) support from 414 Sqn Electronic Warfare Officers flying on every sortie.

DADS completes mission in Burlington, Vermont
DADS takes part in Trident Fury

Discovery Air Defence Services was very busy in May – taking part in Exercise Trident Fury, a two week multinational exercise off the coast of British Columbia, aimed at advancing Canada’s ability to respond to offshore threats and unlawful acts from within a coalition environment.

DADS takes part in Trident Fury

Welcome to Discovery Air Defence Services

Discovery Air Defence Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Air, is the exclusive supplier of combat airborne training services to the Canadian Forces. We provide joint terminal attack controller training to Canadian special operations and ground forces, Red Air and electronic attack training to CF-18 aircrew and navy, as well as live-fire target practice to the Canadian military.

Discovery Air Defence Services’ integrated logistics, maintenance and engineering solutions ensure that the Canadian Forces receives the level of support they require to achieve their objectives.

Since 2005, Discovery Air Defence Services has been delivering premium quality, realistic and cost effective training to our military and we look forward to being an integral part of Canadian efforts to generate operational ready forces well into the future. Experience Matters.

Did You Know?

... that each Discovery Air Defence Services pilot has a unique call sign? Pilot call signs almost always originate from a member of a pilot's squadron. It's considered bad form to make your own call sign. While the origins of an aviation call sign can be varied, many play reference to the aviator’s surname, personality traits or past feats during the pilot’s career. Check out our own Call Sign Generator to see what your unique call sign would be!
... that Discovery Air was the cover article in the March/April 2012 edition of Canadian Skies? A magazine that tells the story of Canadian aviation, the article by Blair Watson called "Diverse Discovery" discusses DA's diversity by exploring each of our business units and our unique operations. To read the full article, please see pages 56 - 65 of Canadian Skies, or view the online edition.
... that according to one of our customers, the excellent services that Discovery Air Defence Services provides “can make the difference in [their] ability to influence the battle space and effectively eliminate a threat to [their] soldiers in theatre, which translates into saving lives?” Check out other customer testimonials here.
... that Discovery Air Defence Services offers rear seat training flights to Forward Air Controllers (FAC)? This is a great training opportunity and certainly brings a very different perspective to the FACs as they can see what the pilot sees as the aircraft flys to the controlled airspace.
... that 3 Discovery Air Defence Services pilots, Shawn "Burner" Byrne, Jeff "Beck" Beckett and Steve "Bunt" Nierlich have over 3000 hours of flying time in the F-18 Hornet? Bunt was the only one to get all of his hours on the CF-18, both Burner and Beck completed exchange tours with the US.

DADS Takes Off

Two of Discovery Air Defence Services' newly painted Alpha Jets take off on a flight between Trois-Rivieres and Bagotville.Video credit: Philippe Palard.