RCAF Training Fleet is Changing Airframes
Story by Ken Kula; photos by Scott Jankowski (where noted) or otherwise by Ken Kula
The Royal Canadian Air Force has announced a huge change to their training process and aircraft lineup. Most of the current airframes used for training will be replaced in the next few years.
The RCAF has ordered a large group of new tactical and strategic aircraft including the Lockheed Martin F-35, Boeing P-8 and Airbus A330 and CC-295. The F-35s will replace the current CF-188 Hornets, the P-8As will replace the CP-140 Auroras, and the Airbus A330 tanker/transports, called the CC-330 Husky, will replace older Airbus A-310s (CC-150s). The CC-295s take over Search and Rescue duties from the now-retired DHC-5/CC-115 Buffalo. Newer trainers with advanced capabilities were needed to match up with these latest generation aircraft.
RCAF pilot training is currently administered by KF Aerospace and CAE; the new RCAF Future Aircrew Training program will be administered by a partnership between the incumbents, called SkyAlyne.
Here’s what you should expect to see changing by the beginning of the next decade…
The RCAF has already retired their CT-155 Hawk trainers and will utilize foreign programs for fast jet training.
The current training airframes have already been thinned out with the recent retirement of CT-155 Hawk trainers. RCAF fighter pilots, after completing initial training, will be sent to advanced schools in the U. S. or Europe for several years until a new jet trainer is purchased.
The Skyalyne contract will replace the following airframes:
The Grob 120A piston trainers (above) will be replaced with a turboprop version, the Grob 120TP.
23 new Grob 120TPs will replace the current Grob 120A fleet.
King Air C90B multi-engine trainer.
A civilian operated Beechcraft 260 Super King Air.
7 Beechcraft Super King Air 260s will replace the current Beechcraft C90B King Airs.
The Bell B206B Jet Ranger is used for single engine helicopter training.
A Polish registered H135, similar to the version which the new RCAF/Skyryse program will soon field.
19 Airbus H135 helicopters will replace Bell B206B Jet Rangers.
CT-142 “Gonzo” trainers have a prominent “beak” which contains radar for aircrew training, this is a modified Dash 8 transport.
The CT-142s will be replaced with Q-400 airframes, like this Air Canada Express airliner.
3 DHC Q-400/Dash 8s will replace the current DHC CT-142 “Gonzo” turboprops.
The Beechcraft CT-156 Harvard II (based upon the Pilatus PC-9) will be replaced with a newer version, the Pilatus PC-21.
Republic of Singapore Air Force Pilatus PC-21 trainer.
The Beechcraft CT-156 Harvard IIs will be replaced by Pilatus PC-21s.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has recently upgraded their transport capabilities with new CC-177s (C-17A) and replaced their CC-130H versions with newer CC-130Js. More CC-130Hs will be replaced with CC-295 (Airbus CN-295) Kingfishers for most of the Air Force’s search and rescue duties (a few CC-138 Twin Otters still remain). Early CC-144 Challenger transports (the CL-601 versions) are being replaced with newer versions (the CL-650 version) and new CH-147F Chinooks have made their way into operational service too.
New training aircraft with current-generation displays, engines and navigation aids will greatly enhance the education which new pilots and crew members need to operate the newest aircraft in Canada’s Air Force.
