Kelowna-based KF Aerospace and simulator and training giant CAE have formed a joint venture to bring all RCAF flight training under one umbrella company. The new company, called SkyAlyne, will continue to operate training facilities in Moose Jaw, Sask. and Southport, Man. KF Aerospace owns the Grob single-engine piston trainers used for basic pilot training along with King Air C90 twins used for multi-engine advanced training and Bell 406 and 412 helicopters used for training rotary wing pilots. CAE owns and maintains the Harvard II advanced trainers and Hawk jet trainers used by the Air Force in Moose Jaw. The two companies will continue to operate independently but the new venture will essentially centralize the bidding process for future contracts with an eye to keeping the contracts in Canada.
KF Aerospace Southport Site Manager Pete Fedak told the Portage La Prairie Daily Graphic newspaper that the federal government recently confirmed that the Southport operation will continue until at least 2027. The contract with CAE expires in 2023. “The union of our two companies through the SkyAlyne Canada joint venture brings together proven expertise in all phases of pilot training, and helps ensure this key industrial capability can be developed and delivered by Canadian companies for Canada,” said Marc Parent, President & CEO, CAE. “SkyAlyne Canada will draw on the resources and experience of both CAE and KF Aerospace, along with many industry partners in our supply chain across the country, to design and develop innovative pilot and aircrew training solutions that can meet the current and future training needs of Canada and our allies.”