CT-157 Siskin II training aircraft depart Switzerland for Canada

The first two CT-157 Siskin II aircraft, the Canadian designation for the Pilatus PC-21, have departed from Pilatus Aircraft facilities in Stans, Switzerland, en route to Canada.

These aircraft are part of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, a 25-year contract awarded to SkyAlyne in May 2024 valued at C$11.2 billion. The program aims to modernize aircrew training through a total of 71 aircraft across five fleets.

The initial two planes will undergo processing at AERO Gatineau-Ottawa before being assigned to 15 Wing Moose Jaw. There, they will be used to develop curricula, train instructors, and conduct pre-operational testing. The CT-157 is designed to facilitate both advanced fixed-wing training and the transition to jet aircraft.

Equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop engine, the aircraft can reach speeds of 685 km/h. The tandem cockpit features advanced technology, including multi-function displays, head-up displays (HUD), and HOTAS controls, to simulate combat environments such as radar contacts, electronic warfare, and air-to-ground threats.