The Royal Canadian Air Force has accepted its first aircraft under the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program, a multibillion-dollar initiative to modernize pilot instruction and ground support.
The initial package included two CT-102B Astra II systems, the military trainer version of the Grob G 120TP aerobatic plane built in Germany.
Both aircraft arrived at Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport before continuing to their permanent base at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Program Scope
FAcT is valued at 11.2 billion Canadian dollars ($8 billion) over 25 years and is managed by SkyAlyne, an Ontario-based joint venture of CAE and KF Aerospace.
The program introduces new aircraft, simulators, and training facilities to update how the air force pilots are prepared for modern operations.
In total, the fleet will include 23 Astra IIs as well as Airbus H-135s, Beechcraft King Air 260s, Pilatus PC-21s, and De Havilland Dash 8-400s.
The first Astra IIs will be used to qualify instructors and finalize lesson plans before pilot training begins.
Training Realignment
The Astra II replaces the CT-102A Astra, still in use at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Southport, Manitoba.
Offering greater power, speed, and altitude, the new model is intended to prepare pilots for advanced systems such as the CF-35A fighter and CP-8A patrol aircraft.
Under the FAcT realignment, basic and advanced flight training will be consolidated at Moose Jaw, while rotary-wing and multi-engine training will remain at Southport.
CT-102B Astra II Specifications
The Astra II fleet features a yellow-and-blue paint scheme. The yellow pays tribute to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan of World War II, when the North American government trained more than 130,000 allied aircrew, while the blue matches the look of today’s Royal Canadian Air Force training aircraft.
The bright colors also make the planes easier to spot in the sky, improving safety in all seasons.
Each Astra II measures 8 meters (26 feet) in length with a low-wing span of 10 meters (33 feet).
It is powered by a 456-horsepower Rolls-Royce M250 engine and a five-blade propeller, reaching speeds of up to 454 kilometers (282 miles) per hour, a range of 1,070 kilometers (665 miles), and a ceiling of 7,600 meters (24,934 feet).
