Partnering with Canada’s military is at the heart of what we do.
Our primary mission is to deliver the highest-quality training and support for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) through the Future Aircrew Training program (FAcT).
Our parent companies KF Aerospace and CAE have worked with the RCAF for decades, providing training, aircraft repair/maintenance and community support, while helping to enrich Canada’s proud military traditions.
Members of our expanded SkyAlyne Team – including our strategic subcontractors – support the Canadian Armed Forces as well as allied/ partner militaries worldwide with their industry-leading technologies and capabilities.
CAE: Proud training partner of choice for militaries worldwide
Since its founding more than 70 years ago by former RCAF pilot Mr. Ken Patrick, CAE has been at the forefront of advancing military technologies and training for the Canadian Armed Forces and partner militaries worldwide.
Training System Integration
CAE designs and delivers the most advanced training solutions in live-virtual-constructive (LVC) environments for militaries around the world, ensuring personnel have all the skills and knowledge needed to achieve mission readiness.
Award-winning training products and services
CAE offers the industry’s most comprehensive range of simulation products related to aircrew training. CAE’s simulation product portfolio ranges from digitally-enabled courseware and desktop trainers to fixed-based flight training devices and the highest fidelity full-mission simulators.
- CAE TRAX Academy – New from CAE, a holistic pilot training continuum utilizing AR/VR technology with advanced data analytics
- CAE Rise – A data-driven training system that leverages big data analytics to make training more efficient and effective.
- CAE Sprint VR Trainer – Delivering high fidelity, realistic training environments for pilots – all through VR headsets and physical flight controls
Training Centres
In addition to the NFTC program in Moose Jaw, Sask., CAE supports military pilot and aircrew training with training centres and full turnkey-training operations in allied and partner countries.
- CAE Dothan Training Centre – Dothan, Alabama
- CAE Sale Military Training Centre – Sale, Australia
- Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility – Wallingford, United Kingdom
KF Aerospace: Supporting Canada’s military for over 30 years
KF Aerospace has been a proud partner of Canada’s military and the Department of National Defence (DND) for decades. Today, KF is proudly committed to going above and beyond for the RCAF in training and aircraft maintenance work, as well as partnering with the RCAF on important community initiatives such as Soldier On and the annual RCAF Gala benefit in Southport, MB.
Critical aircraft maintenance and repair for the RCAF
In 1988 KF Aerospace began its relationship with Canada’s DND, providing avionics upgrades to the Canadair CC109. This led to a major contract award in 1995 and the building of KF’s South Hangar in Kelowna to accommodate a major upgrade program for the Canadian CT-133 Jet Trainers.
Supporting RCAF pilot training since 2005
In 2005, KF Aerospace (then Kelowna Flightcraft) shook the Canadian aviation and defence industry when it won the bid for the 22-year Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS Program) and became the new prime contractor supporting RCAF pilot training at Southport, MB.
Today, the CFTS program led by KF Aerospace/Allied Wings is a resounding success. All RCAF pilot candidates will spend a significant portion of their training at Southport with KF Aerospace’s expert staff and Qualified Pilot Instructors (QFIs).
Getting Canada’s search and rescue aircraft back in the air
In March 2009, KF Aerospace was awarded the contract to complete extended life cycle support (maintenance and engineering) for the RCAF fleet of DHC-5 (CC-115) Buffalos and the DHC-6 (CC-138) Twin Otters and their components.
Though the Buffalos have recently been taken out of service by the RCAF, KF Aerospace still performs extended life-cycle maintenance and repair on the Twin Otters. This included helping the RCAF rescue and repair a downed Otter in 2019.
Spotlight:
KF Aerospace proud to help RCAF keep traditions alive in Southport
2018 RCAF Gala, photo courtest Lucas Plett, Portage Online
In April 2016, KF Aerospace transformed one of their main service hangars at Southport to play host to close to 500 employees, members of the local community and RCAF service-members for a night of fine food, music and dancing. The occasion – the 2nd ever RCAF Gala in Southport, MB.
Three years earlier, KF Aerospace Site Manager for the CFTS program Peter Fedak organized the first RCAF Gala while still serving as the Commandant of 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (CFFTS). Fedak wanted to ensure that the military’s proud heritage would remain an enduring part of the local community’s culture, leading him to help organize the first RCAF Gala in nearby Portage la Prairie.
“Whenever you go with a contracted solution, there’s always the concern that you’ll lose the heritage and the history of the Air Force and the traditions that go with it,” says Fedak. “We also want to make it clear that this is an RCAF operation that we support. We (KF Aerospace) are proud to be linked to the RCAF and to know that we have a key relationship with them to help them continue with their success in all aspects.”
The RCAF Gala returned in 2018, and was set to be held in 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will surely return when it is safe to do so.
The RCAF Gala isn’t just about having fun and rubbing elbows. It also serves as a major local fundraising event for charities such as Soldier On, the Central Plains Cancer Services and the local Rotary Club.
