Serco Steps into the Cockpit: Powering Canada’s Next Generation of Aircrew Training 

When the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) began reshaping how it prepares the aviators of tomorrow, it needed partners capable of delivering not only technical precision but unwavering reliability. That future now comes sharply into focus with Serco joining SkyAlyne—prime contractor for the national Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program—as a key subcontractor delivering essential capabilities across Canada’s next 25 years of aircrew development.

Announced jointly by Serco and SkyAlyne in Ottawa and Toronto, the partnership represents a major milestone in the multi-year transition toward a single, modernized RCAF Pilot and Aircrew ab-initio training system. After the Government of Canada awarded the FAcT contract to SkyAlyne in May 2024, the program has been steadily expanding its footprint and preparing to consolidate three existing training streams into one comprehensive, advanced approach.

At its core, FAcT is Canada’s answer to the question of how to train military aviators for a world in which operations are more complex, more integrated, and more technology-driven than ever. By fusing new processes, modern simulation, and unified training oversight, SkyAlyne is designing a system that ensures every new RCAF aircrew member begins their career at a higher level of readiness.

“We are excited to announce our role with SkyAlyne and contribute to the success of the FAcT program,” said Natasha McLean, Managing Director at Serco in Canada. “Our deep understanding of RCAF training requirements, site services and facility management will ensure a robust and resilient training environment for Canada’s future aviators. This contract aligns with our mission to deliver essential services.”

Serco Brings Critical Capabilities to the Aircrew Training Ecosystem

Serco’s role within this ambitious transformation is substantial. As a key subcontractor, the company will deliver crucial training enablers across three operational FAcT bases—15 Wing Moose Jaw, Southport, and 17 Wing Winnipeg.

Their responsibilities span the full spectrum of operational support required to keep a world-class training enterprise moving: air navigation services, air traffic control, facility maintenance, site services, and security. It is an all-encompassing mission that leverages Serco’s deep experience in training and facility management, reinforced by Serco Edge, the company’s computerized system designed to optimize asset performance and operational efficiency.

For Serco, the terrain is familiar. The company has played a central role in Canadian military training since 1998, including its long-standing presence at Moose Jaw through the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program. That institutional knowledge will be instrumental in ensuring the transition into FAcT is smooth, coordinated, and disruption-free.

“At SkyAlyne we are proud to be building a world-class team to deliver the FAcT program, and we’re excited that Serco will be part of the effort,” commented SkyAlyne’s General Manager, Kevin Lemke. “In a rapidly changing global environment, we must ensure the RCAF has the best training system for Canada’s military Pilots and Aircrew; FAcT will ensure we do.”

A Partnership Built for Reliability and Readiness

Although FAcT will operate for decades, the early years are critical. SkyAlyne’s push toward initial operating capabilities requires tight synchronization across contractors, systems, and training environments. Serco’s involvement directly reinforces that effort, helping maintain operational continuity as the older programs wind down.

With oversight centralized at SkyAlyne’s Joint Management Office in Ottawa, and operations spanning bases in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the entire system relies on precision, interoperability, and a shared commitment to excellence. In joining the FAcT enterprise, Serco strengthens not only the program’s foundation but Canada’s broader ability to cultivate and retain the next generation of RCAF aviators.

In the evolving landscape of military training, this partnership is far more than a subcontract—it is a strategic collaboration built to sustain Canada’s aircrew capabilities for decades to come.