MOOSE JAW — SkyAlyne Canada Limited Partnership, which is overseeing the Royal Canadian Air Force’s new Future Aircrew Training program, recently signed a contract with another aircraft manufacturer to acquire new planes for the project.
German manufacturer Grob Aircraft SE will provide 23 Grob G 120TP training planes for the RCAF’s FAcT program. The G 120TP is an upgraded version of the G 120A variant, which KF Aerospace and the RCAF are using to train pilots through the contracted flying training and support program.
The TP variant features updated avionics, higher performance rates and a more powerful turboprop engine.
“The new Grob G 120TP will serve as the basic flying training aircraft for the FAcT program, which means every RCAF pilot who gets their wings will begin their flying training on this aircraft,” said Kevin Lemke, a senior executive with SkyAlyne.
“Selecting the right aircraft for this role is tremendously significant to ensure that RCAF pilots have the best foundation to build upon. Together with our partners across Team SkyAlyne, we are dedicated to building a world-leading pilot and aircrew solution for the RCAF,” he continued.
“We are honoured each and every day to be entrusted to partner with the RCAF to deliver the FAcT program.”
The signing of the purchase agreement between SkyAlyne and Grob Aircraft confirms production slots for these planes and a manufacturing schedule, with the factory expected to start producing planes in August 2025, the Canadian company said.
The Grob G 120TP is used by other militaries around the world, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In total, over 200 Grob G 120TPs have been delivered worldwide.
The 25-year FAcT program, which Ottawa awarded to SkyAlyne this past spring, is currently in a five-year transition period to become the sole pilot and aircrew training program for the RCAF, as the three current RCAF training programs conclude and their responsibilities are merged into FAcT.
A joint management office at SkyAlyne’s Ottawa headquarters oversees the FAcT program, with operational bases in Moose Jaw, Southport, Man., and Winnipeg.
When operational, SkyAlyne will manage and maintain the fleet while providing instructors to serve alongside RCAF instructional personnel. The Grob fleet will be based at 15 Wing Air Base.
The purchase of the Grobs is the third announcement SkyAlyne has made in the past few months about acquiring new aircraft.
In early November, the company announced that it had purchased 19 H135 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, with those machines to be based at the 3rd Flight Training School at the Southport Aerospace Centre.
Several weeks later, the aerospace business announced that it had acquired 19 PC-21 training aircraft from Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Those machines will be based at 15 Wing once the FAcT program is fully operational.
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