King Air 260 and Dash 8-400 for Canadian training contract
SkyAlyne, the selected bidder for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, has inked a contract with Textron for seven King Air 260 multi-engine trainers on 27 January 2025.
The FAcT programme was awarded to SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace. Deliveries of the King Airs 260 are expected to begin in the first half of 2028. With this purchase, the RCAF follows the footsteps of the US Navy, which already uses the King Air 260 and designated it T-54A Marlin II.
Future RCAF aircrew will be trained flying the Grob 120TP, Pilatus PC-21, Textron/Beechcraft King Air 260, Airbus H135, and Dash 8-400. A contract for three Dash 8-400 aircraft has been awarded last week, 21 January. This mix of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft are part of a SkyAlyne’s winning bid.
Whereas the King Air 260 will replace the King Air C90B fleet, the Dash-8-400 will replace the CT-142 Gonzo (based on the Dash 8-100) in service with 402 Squadron. Contracts for the purchase of 19 H135s, 19 PC-21 and 23 Grob 120TP trainers have been signed last year.
As reported previously by Scramble Magazine, the SkyAlyne contract for the RCAF will replace two separately contracted programmes, Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) and NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC).
CFTS is delivered by Allied Wings, a consortium led by KF Aerospace, from 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (CFFTS) at Southport Aviation Centre in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.
NFTC, is supplied by CAE Military Aviation Training from 2 CFFTS at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Both contracts are set to expire in 2027, which will mean the end of the current types under contract, the Grob 120A and King Air C90B, as well as the RCAF-supplied CH-136 Jet Rangers, CT-142 NavTrainer, CH-146 Griffin, and CT-156 Harvard II used for training.
SkyAlyne will replace these existing two contracts and training by 402 Squadron in one major contract. It remains to be seen whether the contracted aircraft and helicopters by SkyAlyne will receive military serials or civil registrations.
Credit photos: Beechcraft / Textron Aviation and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada