Canada – The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program has reached a key milestone with the arrival of the first two Grob SE G 120TP / CT-102B Astra II aircraft in Canada. The aircraft, recently displayed at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa Air Show, will now continue to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where they will serve as the Basic Flying Training platform for all Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot trainees.
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The aircraft, manufactured in Germany, completed factory acceptance earlier this month and will be the first of 23 Grob G 120TP trainers supplied under the FAcT program.
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Powered by a Rolls-Royce M250-B17F turbine engine producing 456 shp, the CT-102B offers a lightweight (1,500 kg), responsive, aerobatic-capable platform designed to exceed the performance of the aircraft it replaces.
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The FAcT program will consolidate Canada’s three existing ab initio training systems into a unified nationwide structure, managed by SkyAlyne, the joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace.
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CAE, as a major subcontractor, provides live flying, simulation, and ground school instruction. Its Moose Jaw operations employ nearly 200 people, reinforcing both regional economic development and Canada’s sovereign training capacity.
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Once operational, the new fleet will support courseware development, instructor training, program field trials, and test and evaluation activities, shaping the future of Canadian military pilot training.
Source: CAE Defense & Security
Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Air Force