Connecting complex systems for a modern military.

In modern military training, the challenge rarely comes from a lack of data. It comes from trying to use it.

One way Canada’s Department of National Defence is working to change that is through the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, delivered by SkyAlyne. Its goal is to modernize how the country trains pilots and aircrew. The difficulty, however, lies beneath the surface. Training depends on many specialized software systems all producing their own data. Each supports a specific function. Users, including students, instructors, and administrators, often have to navigate multiple disconnected software systems daily, each with its own login credentials and user interface.Together, they can create daily friction.

Our role focuses on removing that friction. To support SkyAlyne’s mission, REDspace is delivering a platform that connects data across training environments and presents it through a single, role-based portal. The system doesn’t replace existing software systems. Instead, it brings them together and surfaces the information each user needs most. 

The project provides a remarkable technical solution to train the next generation of Canadian aircrew. It also represents the next major step in our organization’s long-term mission to support the Canadian Armed Forces.

The data challenge inside modern military training.

Inside any military training environment, information moves constantly. Schedules shift. Data updates in real time. Training and operational decisions depend on accurate, timely visibility. When that information lives in disconnected systems, even routine tasks can become complex.

That reality plays out clearly within the FAcT program, which will soon be the entry point where the next generation trains to become Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots and aircrew. The program reflects a broader shift in training requirements. Canada needs to produce more qualified aircrew while maintaining strict safety and security standards. Meeting that demand depends not only on aircraft and instructors, but on how efficiently information flows across the training environment.

This environment doesn’t lack technology, but a path to integrating that technology is critical. In a training environment, that lack of integration directly affects efficiency, decision-making, future scale and the pace at which training can be delivered.

Connecting systems to reduce operational friction.

Our priority centres on connecting legacy and new systems, allowing information to move freely between them, and making that data visible in day-to-day operations.

Interestingly, such requirements aligned closely with our background at REDspace. For years, we’ve built large-scale data platforms for media organizations. These systems operate on a global scale handling numbers of current users and producing data at a rate orders of magnitude greater than most defence training use-cases. Those environments also involve many independent systems, high volumes of real-time information, and diverse user needs. The context differs, but the underlying challenge looks remarkably similar: integrate complex data and present it in ways people can actually use.

REDspace also brought a practical advantage. We offer Dual-use technology, operate from Canada, with Canadian teams and infrastructure. That is critical in a defence environment where data sovereignty and local capability carry growing importance. The combination of technical experience and national alignment made REDspace a logical member of the SkyAlyne team chosen to deliver for the FAcT program.

To support SkyAlyne, we built an integration layer that pulls information from many systems into a shared environment. On top of this foundation sits a unified portal designed for everyday users. The portal doesn’t try to replace specialized systems. It focuses on surfacing the information people need most.

This approach reduces the number of systems people interact with during daily work. Users still rely on specialized tools when necessary, but they no longer jump between platforms to understand what’s happening.

Our UX design process for the portal is critical. We focus heavily on creating role-based views, ensuring that, for example, a student sees a dashboard tailored to their learning journey, while an instructor sees tools for managing courses and performance.

The result: faster access to information and smoother workflows across the training environment.

What changes in day-to-day operations.

When systems start working together, daily workflows change quickly. People spend less time chasing information and more time focusing on the work that actually matters.

Several practical shifts happen across the training environment:

• Less time searching for information. Users will no longer jump between multiple platforms just to piece together a clear picture of trainee performance or readiness. Information surfaces in one place. That saves time and reduces frustration.

• Faster, smoother workflows. Real-time data flows give a clearer view of information. Teams can respond faster and keep training schedules moving without delays.

• A more intuitive experience for trainees. The portal presents information in a familiar, modern format. Trainees spend less effort figuring out how systems work and more time focusing on their training. That shift may sound small, but it directly affects engagement and retention, especially for younger recruits who expect technology to work smoothly.

• Clearer visibility for leadership. Program leaders gain timely access to reliable, consolidated information. Instead of waiting for manual reports, they can track readiness, identify bottlenecks, and make decisions based on current data.

At a program level, those improvements support the core mission: train more qualified aircrew while maintaining high standards. Reducing friction in daily workflows supports SkyAlyne in that goal.

REDspace as an established partner.

REDspace participates as a proven partner inside a major national training program. That credibility carries significant weight in an industry where trust develops over long timelines.

Looking ahead, the implications extend well beyond a single program. The challenges REDspace addresses appear across many defence initiatives. Complex systems require integration. Large data flows demand coordination. Decision-makers need clear, usable information. Digital literacy and scale must be woven into solutions deployed now and in the future.

About the author

Kenny Fraser is Director of Client Engineering at REDspace, where he leads teams building large-scale software platforms for clients in the defence sector. With more than 15 years of experience designing complex integration architectures, he specializes in helping organizations connect fragmented systems and transform large volumes of data into usable operational insight. He is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.