Student pilots chosen to attend NATO Flying Training in Canada will do their basic flight training in Moose Jaw, Sask. on the Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II, a basic turboprop trainer. It boasts an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio, offering an initial climb rate in excess of 3,300 feet per minute. It reaches 18,000 feet in less than six minutes and can do sustained 2G turns at 25,000 feet.

Canadian pilots training on the Harvard II will arrive at Moose Jaw from initial screening at Portage la Prairie. They will spend 95 hours on the Harvard II at which point they'll be streamed into the fighter, multi-engine or helicopter programs for further training.