Aviation News – Two CT-157 Siskin IIs have departed Stans-Buochs, Switzerland, beginning their delivery journey to Canada as the Royal Canadian Air Force prepares to introduce the Pilatus PC-21 into its future aircrew training system.
The aircraft, operated under the Canadian designation CT-157 Siskin II, are part of the new Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme. Canadian military aircrew training will soon be outsourced to SkyAlyne, which has ordered 19 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for the programme.
The first aircraft, RCAF serial 157201, completed its maiden flight on 26 February 2026 under the temporary Swiss registration HB-HXA. Pilatus subsequently handed the aircraft over to Canada on 8 May 2026, although it remained at the manufacturer’s facility in Stans for preparations before entering service. The second aircraft, 157202, has now joined it on the journey across the Atlantic.
The two PC-21s are expected to take several days to reach Canada, with Prestwick in Scotland planned as an initial stop. The aircraft will provide advanced turboprop training capabilities and form an important part of the new Canadian military pilot-training syllabus, bridging basic flight training and more demanding operational aircraft.
The introduction of the Siskin II represents a major step in modernising Canada’s military aircrew training system. The PC-21 is designed to provide advanced training with performance and cockpit systems that prepare pilots for the demands of modern frontline aircraft, while allowing much of the training to be conducted on a turboprop platform.
The arrival of the first aircraft also offers the Canadian public an early opportunity to see the new trainers. Both Siskin IIs are expected to be displayed at Aero Gatineau in Quebec from 18 to 20 September 2026, providing a first public glimpse of the aircraft that will play a central role in the country’s future aircrew training programme.
The delivery of 157201 and 157202 marks the beginning of a larger transition toward the FAcT system. With 19 PC-21s ordered, SkyAlyne and the RCAF are preparing for a modernised training structure designed to equip future Canadian military aircrew with the skills required for increasingly sophisticated aircraft. The first Siskin IIs therefore represent more than a new aircraft type; they are an early milestone in the transformation of Canada’s military flight training.
The CT-157 Siskin II has begun its journey from Switzerland to Canada as the RCAF moves toward a new generation of military aircrew training. The 19 Pilatus PC-21s ordered for the FAcT programme will eventually form a key element of the country’s training system. Their public debut at Aero Gatineau 2026 is expected to provide the first major showcase of this new Canadian capability.
