e-Newsletter
October/November 2020
Your 30,000-ft View
Greetings!

Each November, Canadians pause to reflect on the past, to thank those who've served — and to remember those lost. Lest we forget.

Now is also a time to look to the future. Canadian defence is undergoing a period of transformation. New technologies continue to emerge; as do potential threats. COVID-19 has made the world less stable and revealed our international supply system to be less reliable than previously thought.

The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program — in which SkyAlyne is one of four pre-qualified suppliers bidding on the contract — will be tasked with preparing all future Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots and aircrew.

We owe it to the men and women who come forward to serve and protect us — on the ground, at sea, or in the skies — to provide them with the best possible training.

We owe it to our military to honour their proud traditions, celebrate their accomplishments and to help them keep Canada strong and secure for many years to come.

At SkyAlyne Canada's team for FAcT that is exactly what we endeavour to do.

We'll build on the strong foundation laid by our parent companies, CAE and KF Aerospace, and along with our fully Canadian team of subcontractors, we'll continue to honour our past and keep military aircrew training fully in Canada's hands now and for the future.

Latest SkyAlyne News
SkyAlyne goes virtual at the ADS Expo Atlantic 2020
In early October, SkyAlyne was a sponsor and participant at the ADS Expo Atlantic 2020 Virtual Conference and Trade Show.

This Halifax-based event was Canada’s first virtual defence conference in the COVID-era. Expo Attendees from across Canada participated in two days of presentations, networking opportunities and B2B meetings, all from the safety and comfort of their own homes or offices.

SkyAlyne made a significant presentation at the conference, featuring speakers from across our full team. Watch it here.
Medve and Hébert make the case for SkyAlyne in The Hill Times
SkyAlyne's selection for Future Aircrew Training would be a win-win for Canada's military and economy.

That was the key assertion made by SkyAlyne Board Chair Tracy Medve and President France Hébert in an advertorial appearing in the Defence Policy Briefing section of the Nov. 18 edition of The Hill Times.

You can read the full article here (page 23).
CAE is Canada's first carbon-neutral aerospace company
SkyAlyne parent company CAE has officially achieved carbon-neutrality, fulfilling an ambitious goal set out by the company the previous year.

By reducing its own emissions and investing in renewable energy certificates, CAE has chosen to lead by example in demonstrating its serious commitment to helping fight climate change.

To mark the milestone, CAE President & CEO Marc Parent held a virtual chat with CAE employees and their children.

KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence unveils updated plans
The non-profit KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence - a legacy project from KF founder Barry Lapointe - is moving ahead.

The state-of-the-art museum and conference centre will be built beside the Kelowna International airport and will feature 60,000 sq. ft. of heritage aircraft displays, educational programs and meeting space.

The Kelowna City Council officially approved the project on November 17. Construction is expected to begin in 2021. The Centre is anticipated to open in Spring 2022.

CTV News Visits 15 Wing Moose Jaw
CTV News Regina visited 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where SkyAlyne parent company CAE currently supports Royal Canadian Air Force pilot training as the prime contractor for the NFTC Program.

The two-part video series features interviews with several active-duty RCAF pilots, including LCol Riel Erickson, the first woman to command at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at Moose Jaw.

View both videos below:


CAE to acquire TRU Simulation + Training Canada Inc
CAE has concluded a conditional agreement with Textron (NYSE: TXT) to acquire TRU Simulation + Training Canada Inc. (TRU Canada) for a cash consideration of approximately US$40 million, excluding post-closing adjustments. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. 

The acquisition of TRU Canada expands CAE’s global installed base of commercial flight simulators and customers, and the addressable market for simulator lifecycle support services. TRU Canada also brings with it a backlog of simulator orders, full-flight simulator assets and provides access to a number of airline customers globally. 

Photo of the Month
The sun rises on a new future in aviation. The Mohawk Centre for Aviation Technology - a new, state-of-the-art facility built in partnership with KF Aerospace at the Hamilton International Airport facility - will soon open its doors to students training across three aviation streams (maintenance, structures, avionics). Photo courtesy of KF AME-Mechanic Nathan Verduyn.

Read more in the latest edition of Momentum magazine from Mohawk College.
SkyAlyne Team Spotlight
Meet Our Team
Michael Sliva is the General Manager of SkyAlyne, overseeing the capture team for our bid for Future Aircrew Training (FAcT).

Mike has over 37 years of diverse management experience in the defence and aerospace, municipal government, and banking industries. He joined CAE in 2011 and currently serves as Director, Major Campaigns and Acquisitions for the Canada region.

Mike previously worked for the City of Portage la Prairie, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Bombardier.

He's originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario and currently resides near Ottawa.

Our Expertise
As the pandemic continues to minimize travel and increase demand for delivered goods, KF Aerospace's cargo conversion experts have been hard at work.

KF is a leader in heavy structural modifications in aviation and is one of the top cargo conversion providers in the world.

KF is Canada's only AEI Authorized Conversion Centre for several types of Boeing aircraft. Customers continue to choose KF for cargo conversions because of KF's reliability, attention to detail and highly trained staff.

Building Canada
Calgary-based ATCO, a key member of the SkyAlyne Team through its ATCO Frontec division, has completed Canada's largest off-grid solar project, in partnership with three Alberta Indigenous Nations.

Located near the remote Northern Alberta community of Fort Chipewyan, the project will provide clean energy to nearby communities and reduce local diesel use by approximately 800,000 litres annually.

The project was built in two phases: a 600-kW solar form owned and operated by ATCO and a 2,200-kW solar farm owned by all three local Indigenous communities - the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation and Fort Chipewyan Métis Association - and operated by ATCO.

Military Partnerships
Our primary mission is to deliver the highest-quality training and support for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) through the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program.

Our parent companies KF Aerospace and CAE have worked with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces for decades, providing training, aircraft repair/maintenance and community support, while helping to enrich Canada’s proud military traditions.

Members of our expanded SkyAlyne Team – including our strategic subcontractors – support the Canadian Armed Forces as well as allied/partner militaries worldwide with their industry-leading technologies and capabilities.

Questions, comments or concerns?
Missed our August/September 2020 e-Newsletter? Read it here.

Make sure to watch for the next edition of the SkyAlyne e-Newsletter, coming soon to your inbox.
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