CANADIAN DEFENCE REVIEW Special COVID-19 Edition VOLUME 26 ISSUE NO. 2 F-35 Targeting FFCP INSIDE THIS ISSUE COVER STORY F-35 CANADA’S FEATURE INTERVIEW Chief of the Defence Staff Volume 26/Issue 65432 Price $12.95 T COVID-19 Publications Mail Agreement Number 40792504 Defence Industry Steps Up PILATUS AIRCRAFT O Next Gen Trainer 75 INDUSTRY PROFILE DEFENCE P COMPANIES tkMS Canada PILOT TRAINING PILATUS PC-21 FAST JET TRAINING IN THE SHAPE OF A TURBOPROP CDR recently sent Aviation Editor, Joetey Attariwala, to Stans, Switzerland, to visit Pilatus Aircraft. We wanted to learn about the Pilatus PC-21, an advanced single engine turboprop training aircraft that is changing the way air forces train the next generation of military pilots. And for Canada, the PC-21 could be an ideal fit for the FAcT (Future Aircrew Training) project and potentially for F-FLIT (Future Fighter Lead-In Training), as well. Here is our firsthand report from Switzerland. PC-21 with Swiss Air Force F-18 Pilatus, which is nestled in the Nidwalden avionics from Canada’s CMC Electronics and JET-LIKE CHARACTERISTICS valley, was founded in 1939 and is the only the company has also worked with Montreal- The ability to do this lies in the PC-21’s Swiss company developing, manufacturing based, CAE in the past. impressive jet-like flying characteristics along and marketing aircraft to customers around Interestingly, Pilatus flew a PC-21 all the with modern technologies which are suited for the world. The privately held company is a way from Switzerland to CFB Moose Jaw to the novice pilot as much as it is for advanced global leader in the manufacture and sale take part in the 2019 Saskatchewan Airshow. pilots preparing for front line platforms. This of single-engine turboprop aircraft from The flight across the Atlantic and Canada was capability provides Air Forces with substantial the legendary Pilatus PC-6 Porter, to the done in a series of hops and was aided by the cost savings across the training continuum bestselling PC-12 turboprop. PC-21’s ability to carry underwing external fuel as it negates the need for multiple types of Most recently, the PC-21 has been tanks - each of which have a capacity of 250 training aircraft, and that, in turn, delivers branded as the ultimate military training litres. This increases ferry range. It was the enormous life-cycle efficiencies when it comes system and from a jet perspective, Pilatus has PC-21’s first appearance on Canadian soil, and to maintenance and support costs. developed the impressive PC-24, the world’s from all accounts was a real crowd pleaser. The PC-21 is a stepped tandem- first ever business jet whose intrinsic design Pilatus has a long history of developing seat trainer that delivers a modern and allows it to be used on short, unprepared military training aircraft, notably the PC-7, comfortable training environment. Tandem runways as and when necessary. The PC-7 MkII and the PC-9 M, 900 of which have seating enables a student to sit in-front and company is licensed to maintain and perform been built to date. Those fleets have provided an instructor behind - this configuration upgrades on a variety of aircraft, and is Pilatus with valuable insights into military immediately immerses students in an certified to ISO 14001 in recognition of its flight training and the skills that air force environment that is representative of environmental efforts. pilots require. That knowledge base, coupled operational fighter platforms. The aircraft Although a continent away, there is much with the use of cutting-edge technology, is equipped with a pressurized cockpit, air- that connects Pilatus to Canada. Levaero Avi- formed the foundation from which Pilatus conditioning, an anti-G system and on-board ation Group located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, developed the next generation of military oxygen generation. is the exclusive distributor for the Pilatus training aircraft - the PC-21 - which, unlike its The PC-21 is mated to the class-leading PC-12 and PC-24 aircraft in Canada. From an predecessors, is a comprehensive integrated 1,600 shaft horsepower Pratt & Whitney operator perspective, the highest profile user training system. Canada PT6A-68B engine, which is coupled in Canada is the RCMP which operates a fleet Air forces are seeking new ways of to a Hartzell five-blade graphite scimitar of sixteen Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, including the managing and maintaining fleets as defence propeller. This engine pushes the speed special mission PC-12 NG Spectre. budgets come under increasing pressure, and climb rate of the PC-21 into a zone that but the PC-21 provides operators a highly was, heretofore, exclusively jet territory. It POWERED BY PRATT & efficient training solution with its ability provides sustained low-level speeds in excess WHITNEY CANADA ENGINES to cover everything from Basic Training, of 320 knots, and a maximum speed of The RCMP fleet along with all other PC-12 Advanced Training, Tactical Training to a 370 knots - which is greater than any other and PC-21 aircraft are powered by variants portion of an Operational Training Unit turboprop trainer - and that means the PC-21 of the legendary PT6A turboprop engine syllabus. All that, enables pilots to convert has a much larger usable flight envelope. which happens to be manufactured by Pratt to operational aircraft types much later than Being a turboprop also means the PC-21 & Whitney Canada. Pilatus aircraft also utilize what would normally be the case. requires much less fuel than a comparable jet WWW.CANADIANDEFENCEREVIEW.COM 83 A turboprop with jet-like characteristics trainer, which is another cost saving feature, particularly when the entire life cycle of a fleet is taken into consideration. The PC-21’s high wing loading, bridges the aerodynamic performance gap between tradi- tional turboprop trainers and front-line aircraft. Hydraulically-assisted ailerons and spoilers enable fighter-like performance, with the PC-21 capable of -4G to +8G, and a roll-rate in excess of 200 degrees per second. A digital power management system and automatic yaw compensation make the PC-21 easy to fly in the circuit, while still providing the perfor- mance required for advanced and FLIT training. Endurance of the PC-21 is rated at 3 hours, or 5 hours with external fuel tanks. The PC-21 has minimal scheduled maintenance intervals, with no aircraft depot level tasks required. ADVANCED COCKPIT Reto Obrist is a factory test pilot and flight CDR’s Attariwala gets to fly the PC-21 over the Swiss Alps Photo: Joetey Attariwala instructor for Pilatus, and he’s a former F/A- 18 pilot. During our visit he told me, “Part He told CDR, “This includes multi-func- which allows pilots the ability to conduct re- of what makes the PC-21 such an impressive tion displays, HUD [Heads-Up Display], and alistic training in air-to-air and air-to-ground trainer is the advanced cockpit which has HOTAS [Hands-On Throttle and Stick] func- tactics and procedures - it’s basically a flying displays and systems presented in a way tionality. The PC-21 also has a new integrated simulator. The aircraft also has a Night Vision that mirrors what pilots will find in the latest mission computer which consists of Pilatus’ compatible cockpit and a formation lighting generation of fighter jets.” proprietary embedded simulation technology system which is also night vision compatible.” 84 WWW.CANADIANDEFENCEREVIEW.COM ment, including computer-based training, manner with pilots graduating directly from part-task trainers, full flight simulators, and a the PC-21 into operational jets. mission planning and debrief system. My visit to Pilatus also provided me with The PC-21’s Mission Planning System (MPS) the opportunity to fly in the PC-21. Prior to allows pilots to plan all aspects of a sortie saddling up, I had to be fitted for an anti-G using mission computers that load information suit since the PC-21 is fitted with Martin to a Pilot Memory Module (PMM) which can Baker Mk16 zero/zero ejection seats. Helping then be transferred to the simulator or to the me through this process was Guido Frey, actual aircraft to load pre-flight information. Pilatus’ Subject Matter Expert for Aircrew Life After a sortie or mission is flown, the recorded Support and Survival. Frey took great care to information on the PMM can be downloaded ensure I was fitted for safety and comfort as into the Mission Debriefing System (MDS) for my flight would take me high over the Swiss post-flight training analysis. Alps, an unforgiving environment if ejection was required. TRAINING AT A FRACTION The pilot for my familiarization flight OF THE COST was Reto Obrist, who patiently guided me The PC-21’s Mission System has open through the entire experience. My initial architecture which allows Pilatus to emulate impression of the PC-21 is one of Swiss- cockpit functionalities of the HUD, HOTAS crafted perfection. The aircraft is sleek and moding, navigation and radar of a number of streamlined and that forecast the impressive fast-jet types. This demonstrates a qualitative performance envelope which I was to training advantage at a fraction of the cost of soon witness first-hand. The fuselage is training mission system operation on current dominated by a large bird-strike resistant FLIT or front-line aircraft. canopy that provides exceptional visibility The Ground-based Training System (GBTS), for both occupants. The rest of the fuselage in combination with the benign handling has cowlings for easy access to the engine qualities of the aircraft and the ability to de- compartment, and a brilliantly designed clutter the mission system, means that the avionics bay with large service panels located Pilatus test pilot, Reto Obrist, says the PC-21 features a highly advanced cockpit aircraft can be used for ab-initio students, just behind the rear-seat.