Milestone moves ‘Siskin II’ closer to delivery start for Ottawa.
Canada’s first Pilatus PC-21 basic trainer has completed its factory acceptance process, edging the Swiss airframer closer to beginning deliveries later this year.
“Factory acceptance represents a critical step in the aircraft delivery process, ensuring the aircraft meets all contractual and performance requirements,” says SkyAlyne, prime contractor for Ottawa’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme.
Marked at the airframer’s Stans production site, the milestone followed “comprehensive inspections and verification of aircraft systems, avionics, and overall build quality”, says CAE/KF Aerospace joint venture SkyAlyne.
Pilatus is on contract to deliver 19 of the turboprop-powered type for use by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which will operate the PC-21 under the service name CT-157 Siksin II.
“Production and testing activities are advancing steadily on Canada’s fleet,” SkyAlyne says. “The first four CT-157s are expected to arrive in Canada in the second half of 2026.”
The new type will be assigned to the RCAF’s 15 Wing at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Pilatus conducted the first flight of a PC-21 produced for the FAcT programme in late February.
The post First Pilatus PC-21 trainer for Royal Canadian Air Force clears factory acceptance milestone first appeared on FlightGlobal.