Canadian Military Aircrew Training JV Awards Airfield Services Contract to Manitoba Aerospace Centre for 25-Year Program

Canada – SkyAlyne, the CAE and KF Aerospace joint venture delivering the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) 25-year Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, has awarded a site services contract to Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. for airfield operational services at the Southport, Manitoba training location.

• Southport will provide airfield operational services in support of FAcT operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable flight operations as SkyAlyne transitions the programme toward full operational capability. KF Aerospace will continue site management activities at the Southport training location under the FAcT programme.
• The Southport site will host two of the FAcT programme's training streams: Advanced Flying Training Rotary Wing, operating 19 CT-153 Juno (Airbus H135) helicopters; and Advanced Flying Training Multi-Engine, operating 7 CT-145E Expeditor II (Beechcraft King Air 260) aircraft.
• The first aircraft — a CT-153 Juno — is expected to arrive at Southport in mid-2026, initially supporting development of new lesson plans and courseware, instructor training, and operational testing as the FAcT programme renews the entire RCAF ab initio training ecosystem.
• The FAcT programme is currently in a multi-year transition period consolidating three separate legacy RCAF training programmes into a single integrated system. The programme is overseen from SkyAlyne's Ottawa headquarters, with three operational bases at Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan), Southport (Manitoba), and Winnipeg (Manitoba).
• Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation managing the former assets of Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie since 1992, operating a Transport Canada-certified airport with four asphalt runways, full navigation aids, an air traffic control tower, and modern hangars.

Statements

• "Southport has a proud history of supporting the RCAF, and we are honoured to continue that legacy through this new agreement with SkyAlyne. 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," said Nathan Peto, CEO, Southport Aerospace Centre Inc.
• "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. We are excited that Southport will continue to be a key subcontractor in the world-class team that will help deliver the FAcT program," said Kevin Lemke, General Manager, SkyAlyne.

Source: SkyAlyne