SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, and the Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. (Southport) are excited to jointly announce that Southport has been awarded a site services contract by SkyAlyne in support of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program at the Southport site in Manitoba.
The FAcT program, an all-encompassing 25-year solution that will deliver ab-initio training to RCAF Pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers (ACSOs), and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AES Ops), will bring multiple legacy programs into a single, integrated system. The Southport site is currently the operational location for the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program, operated by KF Aerospace. KF Aerospace will continue site management activities of the Southport training location as part of the new FAcT program.
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“Southport has a proud history of supporting the RCAF, and we are honoured to continue that legacy through this new agreement with SkyAlyne,” says Nathan Peto, CEO of Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. “As the FAcT program transitions into a new era of integrated training, our team remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and industry leading airfield services.”
Under this contract, Southport will provide airfield operational services in support of FAcT operations. These services will help ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations as SkyAlyne advances the program through its transition period and towards full operational capability. Southport brings decades of experience supporting aviation and defence operations.
“At SkyAlyne, we are proud to be building a world-class team, and this contract with Southport will be an integral part of the success of the FAcT program,” says Kevin Lemke, SkyAlyne’s General Manager. “We are excited that Southport will continue to be a key subcontractor in the world-class team that will help deliver the FAcT program.”
The FAcT program is currently in a multi-year transition period that will see the three separate RCAF training programs conclude and combine their responsibilities into FAcT. The FAcT program is overseen from a Joint Management Office at SkyAlyne’s Ottawa headquarters, with three operational bases: Moose Jaw, SK, Southport, MB, and Winnipeg, MB.
The Southport, Manitoba location will host two of the FAcT program’s training streams: Advanced Flying Training Rotary Wing, and Advanced Flying Training Multi-Engine. These streams will operate using 19 CT-153 Juno (Airbus H135) helicopters, and 7 CT-145E Expeditor II (Beechcraft King Air 260) aircraft, respectively. The first aircraft, a CT-153 Juno, is expected to arrive at Southport in mid-2026. Upon their arrival, and for the upcoming years, the aircraft will support ongoing development of new lesson plans and courseware, instructor training, and operational testing as the FAcT program renews the entire RCAF ab initio training ecosystem.
