DECEMBER 1982: ROLLS-ROYCE CANADA: A
SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW. NOTHING WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE, I USED TO WORK FOR THEM IN
THE U.K.. INSTEAD, THE PROBLEM WAS - A PROJECT THAT NEVER MATERIALISED.
This was in
December 1982. For some reason I do not have the records of this one any
more, but I do remember a few key
points.
I was
introduced to one of their top engineers, an Englishman, by then-President of
Sulzer Canada Inc., Tom Schur, who told me his company had been asked to submit
a proposal for a new jet engine test bed. I learned later this was for
testing F404 turbofan engines powering
Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet fighters; it depended on Rolls-Royce getting the
engine overhaul and testing contract, which was not then certain.
When I met
with Rolls-Royce at their Dorval, Montreal engine overhaul and repair centre,
they gave me a very interesting tour of the facility and explained that they
were looking for someone to oversee the design and construction of the proposed
new engine test bed; after this was complete, they then needed someone to deal
with customer queries related to engine performance. I had some of the
experience they were looking for, so the outlook at the time from my standpoint
seemed fairly promising.
Subsequently I
followed up with several phone calls over the next year or two, to enquire
about to the status of this proposed engine test bed project. After this, with
no apparent project go-ahead in sight, I have to say that I lost interest. It
seemed to have become just a permanent pink elephant.