CAE and KF Aerospace join forces in SkyAlyne Canada joint venture

CAE Press Release | May 1, 2018

Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 39 seconds.

CAE and KF Aerospace, two Canadian military pilot and aircrew training leaders, announced that they have aligned to form SkyAlyne Canada Inc., a 50/50 joint venture that will focus on developing and delivering world-class military pilot and aircrew training in Canada.

A CT-155 Hawk jet trainer flies above the clouds.
A CT-155 Hawk jet trainer flies above the clouds. CAE uses CT-155 Hawk aircraft in the NATO Flying Training in Canada program. Frank Crebas Photo

By establishing the SkyAlyne joint venture, CAE and KF Aerospace are bringing together two Canadian companies with unmatched experience and capabilities in the delivery of pilot and aircrew training in Canada.

Currently, CAE and KF Aerospace deliver all phases of pilot training to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) through the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program managed by CAE, and the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program managed by KF Aerospace.

Two CT-156 Harvard II aircraft in flight
The NATO Flying Training in Canada program also uses CT-156 Harvard II aircraft (pictured). Frank Crebas Photo

The two companies will continue to manage these programs as currently contracted, while SkyAlyne focuses on building synergies between the two programs and ensuring the RCAF has access to world-class training to meet current and future needs.

“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 and CEO, CAE.

A Grob G-120A aircraft conducts a training flight near the Southport Aerospace Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man. on Oct. 10, 2013.
A Grob G-120A aircraft conducts a CFTS training flight near the Southport Aerospace Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man. DND Photo

“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.”

Capt Priscilla Jobin supervises a student as he prepares a Bell CH-146 Griffon aircraft for a CFTS flight at the Southport Aerospace Centre in Portage la Prairie. DND Photo

“The SkyAlyne Canada joint venture between two long-established Canadian aerospace leaders is a significant milestone,” said Barry Lapointe, CEO, KF Aerospace.

“SkyAlyne will build on Canada’s proud heritage started during World War II as an international leader in military aircrew training, and we look forward to working with CAE through the SkyAlyne joint venture to develop next-generation pilot and aircrew training solutions in Canada.”

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