In May 2018, CAE and KF Aerospace joined together to form SkyAlyne Canada, a 50/50 joint venture that focuses on developing and delivering military pilot and aircrew training in Canada.

Currently, CAE and KF Aerospace deliver all phases of pilot training to the Royal Canadian Air Force through the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program managed by CAE, and the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program managed by KF Aerospace.

These programs will come to an end in the next few years and the Government of Canada is looking to award a new contract to renew its existing aircrew training services through the Future Aircrew Training Program (FAcT).

In December 2018, Canada issued a list of qualified suppliers for this program, which includes:

  • Airbus Defence and Space
  • Babcock Canada Inc.
  • Leonardo Canada
  • Lockheed Martin Canada Inc. and
  • SkyAlyne Canada Limited Partnership

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with Peter Fedak, Program Solutions for SkyAlyne.

Hear more about this joint venture and how it is being positioned for the FAcT program, some of the capabilities and solutions SkyAlyne will bring to Canada if selected for the FAcT program, top challenges of pilot training in Canada, advancement in training solutions, some of the lessons and takeaways from CFTS, the shortage pilot problem and steps to solve it, and the future of pilot training.

Peter Fedak is a retired RCAF LCol and helicopter pilot. He joined the RCAF in 1989 and after receiving his pilot wings in 1994 commenced his life as a tactical helicopter pilot supporting the Canadian Army. He has held operational tours with 408 and 403 Squadrons and a training tour at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School achieving an A1 instructor category with the Central Flying School. Other than flying over most of the vast expanses of Canada at 100kts, Peter was deployed to Haiti in 1995 and in 2008 deployed to Afghanistan working with the USAF training Afghan Army Air Corps pilots on the nuances of tactical operations in the Mi-17 helicopter.

Peter’s final post in the RCAF was as the Commandant of 3CFFTS from 2012 to 2014. Upon release, after 25 years of service, he worked as a HEMS pilot for a year before assuming his current role as the KF Aerospace Site Manager for the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) contract supporting the training program for RCAF primary, rotary wing, and multi-engine pilots. Peter has just under 5000 hours of helicopter flying time on five different types including 1900 hours instructing.

To learn more, go to http://www.skyalyne.ca.