Lead pair of Swiss-built turboprops complete ferry flight from Europe.
Canada has welcomed its first pair of Pilatus PC-21s, with the basic trainers to be fielded as part of Ottawa’s overarching Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme.
The Swiss-built turboprops were put on display in Gatineau, Quebec on 17 September, after making ferry flights from Europe. They were greeted by officials including Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) commander Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet.
Both aircraft will appear in the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa Air Show from 19-20 September.
“The welcome to Canada follows successful manufacturing, testing, and training activities in Switzerland at Pilatus Aircraft facilities,” says CAE/KF Aerospace joint venture SkyAlyne. “At the conclusion of activities in Gatineau, the aircraft will continue their journey to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where the fleet will be based,” it adds.
“Upon arrival in Moose Jaw, the aircraft will undergo final delivery to the RCAF and subsequently begin work on developing and testing new elements of the FAcT programme.”
The single-engined PC-21 will have the service name CT-157 Siskin II in Canadian service, with the newly arrived examples having the registrations 157201 and 157202.
Nineteen PC-21s are being acquired for the service via SkyAlyne, which is tasked with delivering the FAcT capability under a 25-year deal worth C$11.2 billion ($8 billion). The entirely new training system will also introduce 23 Grob Aircraft G120TPs, seven Beechcraft King Air 260s, three De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s, and 19 Airbus Helicopters H135s.
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