Vanguard Magazine

PersPeCtiVe W hen the Government announced the Future Aircrew Training Pro- gram (FAcT), Canadian companies CAE and KF Aerospace were faced with a choice. To continue providing contracted training support for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for the next 20+ years, they could compete against each other, along with several internationally based defence con- tractors. Or they could join forces, com- bine their considerable experience and expertise, and provide a comprehensive, truly Canadian solution for FAcT. They chose the latter, calling the new partner- ship SkyAlyne. Unmatched experience and expertise Forming SkyAlyne was a sensible move. On their own, both parent companies cur- rently provide all contracted pilot training support for the RCAF. KF Aerospace has led the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program at Southport, MB, since 2005. CAE has managed the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program at Moose Jaw, SK/Cold Lake, AB, since 2015. Today, a successful RCAF pilot-candidate will complete all phases of their contracted training between these two programs, from ab initio (beginner) to receiving their 'wings' and specialized training. By creating SkyAlyne, CAE and KF Aerospace have brought the entire scope of contracted military pilot training in Canada under one umbrella. Why is this important for FAcT? The knowledge and experience gained through managing the existing programs will be critical to delivering next-generation training. Large training programs require constant adaptation to deliver consistent, quality outcomes. By applying the same efficiencies needed to excel in the private sector to a complex military environment, the teams at Southport and Moose Jaw/ Cold Lake have achieved consistently high- performance scores and aircraft availability rates, keeping student pilots in the air. The proof is in the results. To date, the CFTS and NFTC programs have produced hundreds of thousands of in-flight train- ing hours, leading to thousands of pilots successfully trained for Canada and allied militaries. Peter Fedak is the current Site Manager for the CFTS program. A retired RCAF helicopter pilot, flight instructor and the former Commandant of 3 Canadian Forc- es Flying Training School (3CFFTS) at Southport, Fedak has been both a user and a key player to the continual improvements KF Aerospace has made. "While I was impressed each time I was here, my main experience was how much it had evolved with each iteration of the program," says Fedak. "The efficiencies of contracted support were highly evident compared to the operations as a military base. The overall willingness of KF Aero- space to provide the necessary services to the Department of National Defence, as well as the speed of decision-making, truly makes the system work efficiently and ef- fectively." 22 APRIL/MAY 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com Sponsored Content skyalyne Truly canadian experTS for The fuTure aircrew Training program

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