Aeronautical Product Development and Certification Program

We collaborate with:

• original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including airframe and engine OEMs
• small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to advance the introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning in virtual flight testing and various fields of the program. With support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, we help Canadian SMEs engage further in R&D projects
• universities: at lower technology readiness level (TRL) to help advance modelling and simulation leading to certification by analysis. Academia is a leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning used for digital twining and virtual testing in the fields of flight testing simulation and icing and structures for both metals and composites. Our academic partners include but are not limited to the University of Calgary, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and the University of Toronto
• other national and international research centres including NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the German Aerospace Center
• other government departments (OGDs) including Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and the Department of National Defense

The NRC is the only Canadian federal research and technology organization with the expertise and infrastructure to support Canadian companies in aeronautical product development, enabling them to compete in the global aerospace sector.

Collaborators can benefit from the NRC's flexibility, access to testing facilities and multi-disciplinary expertise for the development and certification of new aeronautical products. Our work includes verifying and validating modelling and simulation activities versus real aerodynamics data, engine and propulsion systems testing and structural testing results. We also provide flight test and simulation services.

At the NRC, we:

• provide access to an advanced research infrastructure and unique expertise, combined with customized service options and calibration
• ensure partner data integrity and confidentiality
• offer competitive rates
• maximize opportunities and connections between Canadian companies at all levels of the supply chain, including upper tier suppliers and OEMs
• provide access to a network of research development test and evaluation providers
• establish strong relationships with regulators

The NRC provides key technical services and expertise to partners on a one-on-one basis. We assist and guide clients and partners in proven approaches for product development and qualification. Our multidisciplinary array of technical capabilities includes:

• icing
  • Atmospheric icing data collection
  • Icing probes development
  • Supercooled large droplets and ice crystal icing modelling and simulation for icing certification by analysis
• structures prototyping
  • Metals
  • Composites
• flight testing
  • Virtual flight testing

Partners and clients have access to an extensive range of facilities, instrumentation and equipment. In addition to our test facilities, we offer a wide range of analysis and simulation software and capabilities, including structural analysis programs, computational fluid dynamics software and combustion modelling software. Our facilities in Ottawa include:

• advanced manufacturing facilities
• electrodynamic shaker system
• engine test cells
• structural full-scale testing (SFST)
• gas turbine research facilities
• load test frame and non-destructive evaluation
• research aircraft
• 0.9 m wind tunnel
• 1.5 m trisonic wind tunnel
• 2 m x 3 m wind tunnel
• 3 m x 6 m icing wind tunnel
• 9 m wind tunnel
• altitude icing wind tunnel