CFB Comox 19 Wing Cormorant Simulator Building

Project info

19 Wing Comox, a vital Royal Canadian Air Force base on Vancouver Island, oversees search and rescue operations from the Yukon and the Rocky Mountains to more than 1,200 kilometres into the Pacific Ocean, while also monitoring the coast for illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug activity, and environmental pollution.

The new Cormorant Flight Simulator Training Device Facility, a key component of the Canadian Armed Forces’ $1.24 billion Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade project, was constructed to enable aircrews to complete advanced training in Canada rather than traveling to the United Kingdom. The building houses a full-motion helicopter simulator, installed on a vibration-isolated concrete slab for precise performance, along with dedicated offices and control rooms that support instruction and operations.

Designed for precision, resilience, and integration, the facility connects seamlessly with the existing search and rescue training infrastructure on the base, creating a comprehensive and future-ready training environment. This modernization effort will extend the life expectancy of the CH‑149 Cormorant to 2042 and ensure the aircraft remains capable of performing rescues:

• At high altitudes in the Canadian Rockies
• During extreme weather conditions
• Far into the inhospitable Pacific Ocean
• Throughout the Arctic

This project represents a critical investment in long‑term readiness and ensures aircrews can train year‑round in a safe, controlled, and technologically advanced environment that reflects real‑world rescue conditions.

OUR SCOPE

Our team delivered the full electrical and technology scope for this highly specialized, mission‑critical training facility, drawing on decades of experience supporting defence and secure government infrastructure where reliability, safety, and operational continuity are non‑negotiable. This project marks Houle’s second simulator facility at CFB Comox, following the successful delivery of the FWSAR Simulator Building in 2021.

The project includes the installation and commissioning of a 25 kV transformer, more than 1,000 feet of 3‑inch underground conduit carrying high‑voltage concentric neutral cabling, and a dedicated control lab featuring a 160 kVA UPS and cellular floor system to support uninterrupted simulator operations.

As the building approaches occupancy, Houle continues to work closely with CAE to support final simulator integration—ensuring all electrical and technology systems perform seamlessly as the facility transitions from construction to active training use.