3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School ( 3 CFFTS ) is located at the Southport Aerospace Centre just south of Portage La Prairie , Manitoba , Canada . 3 CFFTS conducts Primary Flight Training on the Grob G 120A . Helicopter training is done on the Bell CH - 139 Jet Ranger and the Bell 412 helicopter ( retired CH - 146 Griffon s ) . Multi - engine training is conducted on the Beechcraft King Air C - 90B . The school is based at the Southport Aerospace Centre ( formerly CFB Portage la Prairie ) . The service companies of Allied Wings and Southport Aerospace Centre provide all support services for 3 CFFTS , including aircraft maintenance and airfield operations . 3 CFFTS uses civilian pilots to teach primary pilot training and the air navigator courses . Military pilots are employed to teach the helicopter and multi - engine aircraft courses . History . Portage la Prairie has been the site of military primary flight training since World War II , when it was home to No . 14 Elementary Flying Training School , part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan . Following the war the base was retained as the home of the Royal Canadian Air Force ' s 3 Flying Training School , the direct ancestor of 3 CFFTS . 3 CFFTS was first formed on 1 July 1970 at CFB Portage la Prairie . It was made up of personnel and equipment drawn from 1 Primary Flying School , CFB Borden who flew the de Havilland Canada CT - 120 Chipmunk trainers , 4 Flying Training School , CFB Rivers who flew Hiller CH - 112 Nomad helicopters and 3 Flying Training School , Portage la Prairie who flew the Beech CT - 128 Expeditor multi - engine trainer . During 1971 the Chipmunks were replaced with the Beech CT - 134 Musketeer s and the Nomads were replaced by Bell CH - 136 Kiowas . During the 1970s the school created two air demonstration teams , staffed by instructors , the Dragonflies , flying the CH - 136 Kiowa and the Musket Gold with CT - 134 Musketeer . During 1981 the CT - 134 Musketeers were in need of replacement and a newer version , the Beechcraft C23 Sundowners was procured as the CT - 134A Musketeer . At the same time the CH - 136 Kiowas were returned to the tactical helicopter squadrons that they had come from and were replaced by new - purchase CH - 139 Jet Rangers . During 1992 CFB Portage la Prairie was closed and the base facilities turned over to a new civil organization , the Southport Aerospace Centre . All previous support functions , including the provision of aircraft and their maintenance and the running of the airport , was contacted out to civilian companies . This new " Contracted Flight Training and Support Program " resulted in the Musketeers being replaced with Slingsby T - 67C Firefly trainers . The military instructors who had taught the Primary Flying Course were replaced by contract civilian instructors . Multi - engine and helicopter training was conducted by military instructors using the Beech C - 90A King Air and the CH - 139 Jet Rangers . In 2005 a $ 1 . 77 billion , 20 - year " Contracted Flying Training and Support Contract " was awarded to Allied Wings to continue the program to 2025 . This resulted in the following equipment changes :