Training the Next Generation: SkyAlyne Marks a Milestone with First RCAF Acceptance of FAcT Aircraft
Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program crossed an important threshold this month as SkyAlyne and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) celebrated the acceptance of the first four CT-102B Astra II aircraft at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. Sleek, fully aerobatic, and equipped with the latest avionics, these aircraft are more than new additions to a fleet—they represent the beginning of a new era in Canadian military aircrew training.
The arrival marks an early victory in a long-term modernization effort that will reshape how future aviators learn, train, and prepare for operational service. For SkyAlyne, it is a defining moment in its role supporting one of Canada’s largest and most complex training transformations in decades.
A New Generation of Training Aircraft Takes Its Place
The four newly accepted CT-102B Astra II aircraft—known globally as the Grob G 120TP—are now officially part of the RCAF’s inventory. Their role is foundational: they will support the progressive buildup of the FAcT program, from instructor training and lesson-plan development to evaluation, testing, and maintaining proficiency for both military and civilian instructors.
Acceptance activities were conducted at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where the aircraft underwent detailed inspections and test flights. This milestone follows a series of key events earlier in the year, including a “Welcome to Canada” ceremony and public display at Aero Gatineau-Ottawa in September, as well as factory acceptance procedures at Grob Aircraft’s facility in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany in August.
Each step—factory testing, trans-Atlantic ferrying, Canadian inspections—reflects the meticulous process involved in preparing a fleet that will train generations of Canadian military pilots.
Inside the CT-102B: Power, Precision, and Performance
As the Basic Flying Training aircraft for the FAcT program, the CT-102B is the first cockpit student pilots will step into. The aircraft’s fully aerobatic design, powered by a Rolls-Royce M250-B17F turbine engine producing up to 456 shaft horsepower, gives trainees access to a performance envelope that is responsive, precise, and capable of preparing them for the demands of modern military aviation.
An all-glass cockpit and digital instrumentation place students in a contemporary training environment from day one, mirroring the advanced systems they will encounter as they progress to more complex platforms. Combined with exceptional handling characteristics, the CT-102B offers a high-fidelity training experience ideal for building core flying skills.
FAcT’s Expanding Footprint
The Future Aircrew Training program is ambitious in scope—71 aircraft across five fleets, including 23 CT-102Bs that make up the complete Astra II fleet. This distributed model strengthens Canada’s training capacity and provides a cohesive, national system for producing the next generation of skilled aircrew.
Local operations and maintenance for the CT-102B fleet in Moose Jaw are led by CAE, one of SkyAlyne’s joint venture partners alongside KF Aerospace. CAE serves as lead operator at Moose Jaw, while KF Aerospace leads operations at Southport, Manitoba, forming a national training partnership that is integrated, collaborative, and purpose-built for Canada’s evolving defence needs.
Momentum Continues into 2026
The pace of delivery is already accelerating. A fifth CT-102B aircraft arrived at 15 Wing on November 17, with acceptance procedures now underway. The delivery schedule resumes in 2026, when favourable North Atlantic weather windows once again allow for safe ferry flights from Europe.
Each aircraft that touches down in Moose Jaw represents progress—another step toward a fully modernized training system designed to deliver readiness, resilience, and world-class capability.
SkyAlyne’s milestone celebration with the RCAF signals the steady transformation of aircrew training in Canada—and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for future military aviators.
