KF Aerospace buys choppers
Photo: Airbus Helicopters in Canada
SkyAlyne and Kelowna’s KF Aerospace have agreed to purchase 19 helicopters from Airbus to help train Royal Canadian Air Force pilots.
KF Aerospace, which makes up half of SkyAlyne, executed the contract for 19 advanced Airbus H135 helicopters, which will be used for the RCAF Future Aircrew Training Program, or FAcT. SkyAlyne won the contract for the 25-year FAcT program earlier this year.
“From the outset, we recognized the pivotal role that selecting the right aircraft would play in ensuring the long-term success of the FAcT program,” KF Aerospace president and CEO Tracy Medve said in a press release. “With the Airbus H135, we’re confident in a choice that meets both the RCAF’s stringent training requirements for rotary-wing pilot training and our commitment to operational excellence.
“Partnering with Airbus Helicopters in Canada allows us not only to deliver a state-of-the-art training solution but also to bolster Canadian industry with local manufacturing and assembly. We look forward to receiving the H135s and advancing the FAcT program’s mission to shape the future of Canadian military aviation training.”
The helicopters will start being delivered in mid-2026 from the Airbus Helicopters in Canada plant, which is located in Fort Erie, Ont. The helicopters, once operational, will be based in Manitoba at the Southport Aerospace Centre.
“SkyAlyne is excited at the successful conclusion of negotiations between our partners at KF Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters in Canada, and we extend our gratitude to everyone involved,” SkyAlyne general manager Kevin Lemke said. “Securing the Airbus H135 fleet for the RCAF is an important milestone for the FAcT program, as it solidifies a core element of the program schedule.
“The selection of the state-of-the-art H135 from Airbus Helicopters contributes meaningfully to the Canadian economy and SkyAlyne is proud to be building a world-leading Pilot and Aircrew training program for the RCAF while supporting Canadian jobs.”
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