Beechcraft King Air 260 selected for the FAcT program in Canada
Textron Aviation secures the first international sale of the Beechcraft King Air 260 for Canada's FAcT program
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Textron Aviation announced today the first international sale of seven Beechcraft King Air 260 multi-engine military training aircraft, which will be used in the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program to train pilots for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This contract, managed by SkyAlyne and KF Aerospace, stipulates that deliveries will begin in the first half of 2028.
Additionally, to support the Ground-Based Training Systems (GBTS), SkyAlyne and CAE have contracted Textron Aviation to supply components for the manufacturing of a full-flight simulator and other flight training devices, developed by CAE.
The King Air 260 will play a key role as a multi-engine training aircraft in the FAcT program, replacing the reliable King Air 90B, which has been used as a multi-engine trainer by the RCAF since 2005.
Features of the King Air 260 for the RCAF
The aircraft will be delivered in a configuration tailored to meet the requirements of the FAcT program, including:
• Night Vision Goggles (NVG)-compatible cockpit.
• TACAN (air-to-air).
• Angle of Attack (AOA) indicator.
• V/UHF radio and digital audio system.
• Engine trend monitoring and condition-based maintenance.
• Observer/jump seat and mission seating for passengers.
• Full oxygen masks.
These aircraft will be based in Southport, Manitoba, where future RCAF pilots will be trained.
“We are honored that the King Air 260 has been selected, this time to meet the multi-engine training needs of the RCAF,” said Bob Gibbs, Vice President of Special Missions Sales at Textron Aviation. “The King Air 260 will modernize multi-engine aircraft training by providing an intermediate and advanced training platform for RCAF pilots destined for operational squadrons in heavy transport, maritime patrol, or search and rescue roles. Following the U.S. Navy order, this further establishes the King Air 260 as the multi-engine military trainer for many generations of aspiring pilots.”
The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program
Spanning 25 years, the FAcT program is transitioning to become the single comprehensive training framework for RCAF pilots and aircrew. This process will unify the three current training programs under one operational framework, coordinated from a Joint Management Office located at SkyAlyne’s headquarters in Ottawa. Operations will be distributed across three main bases: Moose Jaw (SK), Southport (MB), and Winnipeg (MB).
In rapid succession, the SkyAlyne team has signed three other key contracts for the acquisition of aircraft required for the FAcT program:
• November 28: Purchase of 19 Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft.
• November 19: Acquisition of 23 Grob G 120TP basic training aircraft.
• November 4: Purchase of 19 Airbus H135 helicopters.
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