Team SkyAlyne joins the RCAF to mark the start of flying ops for CT-102B Astra II

Press Release

On April 20, Team SkyAlyne was pleased to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in marking the start of flying for the CT-102B Astra II (Grob G 120TP) aircraft at 15 Wing Moose Jaw as part of the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program.

These initial operations are focused on instructor pilots, who are conducting flying activities to support course development, as part of our efforts to revamp the RCAF ab-initio training ecosystem. This ‘Train the Trainer’ phase will help establish standardized procedures and refine the training syllabus before student pilots begin their flying journey.

“To achieve Astra II flight ops, everyone has worked together,” said Kevin Lemke, General Manager of SkyAlyne. “This outcome-focused mindset sets FAcT apart. The way our teams are going about this work gives me high confidence that our FAcT Enterprise is on the right track.”

When in service in the RCAF, the CT-102B Astra II will serve as the Basic Flying Training aircraft. 15 Wing Moose Jaw will become the new home of the Basic Flying Training program, succeeding the Primary Flying Training syllabus currently conducted at Southport, MB. The two-seater aircraft is powered by the Rolls-Royce M250-B17F turbine engine, which produces up to 456 shaft horsepower. Paired with a typical operating weight in the range of approximately only 1,500kg, the result is a highly capable and responsive aircraft.

As additional aircraft are delivered to Canada, the Astra II fleet at 15 Wing Moose Jaw will continue to grow to a total fleet of 23, as SkyAlyne develops the core platform for basic flight training under the new program. The FAcT program includes updates to curriculum design, simulation, and live flying components, with the goal of creating an integrated training environment aligned with RCAF operational requirements.

There are currently five CT-102Bs delivered to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, with additional deliveries continuing throughout 2026 and into 2027.

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Noah Note: A wonderful achievement for SkyAlyne and the RCAF. This marks the official beginning of the FACT era, one that will see nesrly the entirety of the RCAF training fleet revitalized with new aircraft, training infrastructure, and and facilities meant to take the RCAF into the fifth-generation.

Incredibly proud of everyonws work so far, and for SkyAlyne’s great ability to keep things updated!