First RCAF Juno completes test flights at Fort Erie Airbus facility
May 13, 2026 at 4:57 PM
The first CT-153 Juno helicopter being prepared for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has completed initial Canadian test flights at Airbus Helicopters in Fort Erie.
SkyAlyne says the Airbus H135 aircraft also showed its RCAF livery during the flights, marking another step toward delivery under Canada’s Future Aircrew Training program.
The work took place at Airbus Helicopters in Canada’s Fort Erie facility, where the aircraft is undergoing final completion before being handed over to the RCAF.
The aircraft’s livery includes the RCAF’s historic training yellow, along with blue tones and red-and-white elements. Credit: SkyAlyneAccording to SkyAlyne, the Fort Erie work includes installation of Canadian-developed supplemental type certificate elements, painting and final testing before delivery.
SkyAlyne says the initial flights and installation work in Fort Erie are meant to help validate the helicopter’s performance, systems integration and overall airworthiness before it enters service as a training aircraft.
The CT-153 Juno is based on the twin-engine Airbus H135. SkyAlyne says the helicopter is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B3 engines and includes Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite.
SkyAlyne says final RCAF markings are expected to be added in the coming weeks before delivery.
The Fort Erie work follows manufacturing acceptance of the first CT-153 Juno in Germany last year. In a November release, SkyAlyne said the aircraft was being sent to Airbus Helicopters in Fort Erie for final completion, including Canadian modifications, paint and testing.
SkyAlyne says it is acquiring 19 CT-153 Juno helicopters from Airbus Helicopters in Canada for the RCAF.
The helicopters will be used as the advanced rotary-wing training aircraft under the Future Aircrew Training program, known as FAcT.
According to the Government of Canada, the FAcT program is part of a 25-year contract awarded to SkyAlyne in 2024 to provide new training aircraft, simulators, instructors, infrastructure and maintenance for RCAF aircrew training.
The federal government says 71 training aircraft are being acquired across five fleets through the program.
Once delivered, SkyAlyne says Canada’s CT-153 Juno fleet will be based at 15 Wing Southport in Manitoba with 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.
SkyAlyne is a Canadian defence partnership between CAE Inc. and KF Aerospace, selected by the federal government to deliver Canada’s FAcT program for the RCAF.
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Brent Jones
Program director, lead editor, and host, Fort Erie Radio; Realtor, eXp Realty; family man; lives in Ridgeway; proud to call the Town of Fort Erie home.
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