This past weekend ENA the \u00c9cole nationale d’a\u00e9rotechnique hosted an open house, trade show, career expo and airshow at Saint Hubert Airport – recently rebranded as MET \u2013 Montreal Metropolitan Airport, southeast of Montreal, in Longueuil, QC. It is the first registered civilian aerodrome in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aviation roots run deep at the airport, which began operating in 1927 as a base for His Majesty’s Rigid Airship R100 of the Imperial Airship Scheme, which connected Canada and the United Kingdom via air transport. The R100 moored for the first time in 1930 at Saint Hubert. The airship continued its Canadian tour by visiting Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara Falls before returning to the UK. The scheme was canceled shortly after the crash of another prototype airship, the R101. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The plan also integrated airmail service at the airport, establishing it as a distribution hub for then, Canada’s biggest city, Montreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Hubert also has claim to Canada’s first, and longest running air traffic control tower, in continuous operation for 85 years since 1939. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pratt and Whitney Canada has its headquarters adjacent to the airport as well as the Canadian Space Agency. Porter Airlines has committed to providing airline service after a new passenger terminal is completed in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
438 \u201cCity of Montreal\u201d Tactical Helicopter Squadron has a base of operations at the airport, operating a fleet of CH-146 Griffon aircraft. The Squadron flew a high-intensity demonstration to open the airshow.![](\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfjh40OOJt3JVpQLhRac6yum9zTDXAm9Oi6agFphkHPfKVrh3kaIjqqvKNBJsRqBr-0C4E_vwZATsfXkicTceAgO2WBfZ1bHKomvWbpH7AbQMOrZmWJCd7vkKW59WYna1yXD3BrnHMxDlPHB9zdfuIWOpx7?key=7kdMpAyjZYjhCPidqdYFtQ\")
ENA has been a technological school and innovation center for 60 years, established in 1964. A sprawling campus with labs, workshops, machine shops, hangars and outdoor static airframe demonstrators. The campus partners with manufacturers to teach the latest techniques and showcase technology. Fixed wing and rotary flight training is also integrated into the curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the umbrella of C\u00e9gep \u00c9douard-Montpetit which has a total student enrollment of around 16,000 students and operates as a satellite campus at MET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AeroSalon 2024 is the second airshow organized by the campus, the first being held in 2019. The event was well organized, and over two days, over 15,000 people attended. On Friday, during rehearsal, the campus hosted busloads of local high school students to introduce the next generation to aviation and the careers it can offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The airshow predominantly featured Canadian performers, with the exception of Thom Richard of Warbird Adventures and his \u201cAmerican Dream\u201d TP-40 Warhawk. Also, owner Bill Culberson flew an ex-RCAF CT-33 in the beautiful RCAF Black Knight scheme of 414 Squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RCAF 100 was further celebrated with the colour CF-18 Hornet Demo and the traditional closing of the show by the CF Snowbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rounding out the line up was the Northern Stars Aerobatic team, Time Flies Yak and Salto Sailplane and Martin Hivion in his Yak55 in an impressive formation flight with a Chrono Aviation Pilatus PC-12. A Quebec CL-415 water bomber added refreshing coolness to the hot airshow day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully, the successful event will inspire parents and the next generation to consider aviation as a satisfying career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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