The Canadian government announced a multi-year grounding of the Royal Canadian Air Force air demonstration squadron following the current flight season. Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the decision at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on May 19, stating that the team will pause public performances until the early 2030s. The operational pause takes place alongside a broader 9.4-billion-dollar overhaul of the country’s military pilot training infrastructure.
The military will permanently retire the aging fleet of 11 Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets, which have been in service since the 1960s. To replace them, the air force is purchasing Swiss-made Pilatus PC-21 turboprops. The military formally designated the incoming aircraft as the CT-157 Siskin II.
Conservative Member of Parliament Fraser Tolmie previously questioned the speed of the replacement process. Tolmie stated that an extended grounding could impact pilot morale and weaken institutional knowledge within the squadron. The squadron flew the original CT-114 Tutor variants for 55 years starting in 1971.
The decision to acquire the turboprop fleet aligns with the broader Future Aircrew Training Program. Utilizing an existing training platform prevents the military from managing an isolated fleet dedicated solely to public exhibitions. The official government procurement framework honors the original 1930 Siskins aerial team, which used Armstrong Whitworth Siskin biplanes.
Technicians faced escalating logistical difficulties maintaining the 60-year-old Tutor airframes before the retirement order. The transition marks a technological shift for the demonstration team from traditional pure jet engines to digitalized turboprop systems.