CAE and KF Aerospace’s Ontario-based joint venture SkyAlyne has contracted Grob and Pilatus to deliver 32 training aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Under the project, the service will receive 23 G 120TP systems from Grob and 19 PC-21s from Pilatus, with deliveries to start in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The incoming fleet will be stationed at the Moose Jaw RCAF Base in Saskatchewan, where they will be operated by SkyAlyne as part of Canada’s 25-year Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program to bolster its tactical aerial capabilities in response to emerging threats.
Canada’s Future Aircrew Training Program
Ottawa’s 11.2-billion Canadian dollar ($8 billion) FAcT program will cover the preparation needs of pilots, air combat systems officers, airborne electronic sensor operators, and ground-based aircrews.
SkyAlyne secured the deal to supervise this initiative in July 2023, with tasks encompassing live flight simulations, in-classroom sessions, equipment upgrades, and training facility renovations.
In addition to the recently ordered German and Swiss planes, SkyAlyne will utilize Airbus H-135 helicopters, Beechcraft King Air 260 utility aircraft, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 airliners in the effort.
The Canadian Department of Defence noted in the FAcT acquisition update that the program will be facilitated across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Winnipeg, and is expected to support more than 3,000 opportunities throughout its duration.
The G 120TP and PC-21 Systems
Grob’s G 120TP is an 8-meter (26-foot) platform with a low-wing structure spanning 10 meters (33 feet).
It is powered by a Rolls-Royce M250 engine with 456 horsepower and a five-bladed propeller for speeds up to 454 kilometers (282 miles) per hour, a range of 1,070 kilometers (665 miles), and an altitude of 7,600 meters (24,934 feet).
Meanwhile, the Pilatus PC-21 measures 11 meters (36 feet) and has a wingspan of 9 meters (30 feet).
It is equipped with a 1,600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine and a five-bladed propeller for a top speed of 685 kilometers (426 miles) per hour, a range of 1,333 kilometers (828 miles), and a service ceiling of 11,580 meters (37,992 feet).
