SkyAlyne is the incoming Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program provider for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
We are a team of defence, training, simulation, and aviation industry experts assembled from across Canada, ready to help prepare the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots and aircrew.
SkyAlyne was formed in 2018 as a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace, two Canadian aviation, training, and defence leaders. The partnership was built to jointly bid on the Government of Canada’s FAcT program. In 2023 SkyAlyne was named the preferred bidder, and in 2024, was officially contracted to deliver the FAcT program.
Transitioning to the FAcT program
Today, all RCAF pilots are trained through two separate contracted programs:
- The NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Program in Moose Jaw, SK, and Cold Lake, AB, is managed by CAE.
- The Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Program in Southport, MB, is managed by KF Aerospace.
Additional aircrew – Air Combat Systems Officers (ACSOs) and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AESOPs) – are trained in Winnipeg, MB by the RCAF directly.
All these programs are being replaced by FAcT, the next-generation solution combining all phases of military pilot training and aircrew training.
Today SkyAlyne is working closely with our partners in Government and Industry to successfully transition the RCAF’s aircrew training to the FAcT program, while our parent companies, CAE and KF Aerospace, continue to deliver two excellent training programs.
While we are working together to build on the best practices of NFTC and CFTS, and develop an innovative and flexible training program for our future RCAF aircrew, we will also ensure all program benefits and potential future export benefits stay in Canada. This ensures we will help grow Canadian businesses and communities for many years to come.
