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'Canadian Forces Air Command' ('AIRCOM') is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. AIRCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which was Canada's air force from its foundation in 1924 until February 1, 1968. Prior to 1924, the Royal Air Force provided air defence for Canada. After 1968, the RCAF was merged with the Army and the Royal Canadian Navy to form the Canadian Forces.

Contents

Mission

History

Aircraft inventory

Leased / Contractor Aircraft

Proposed Future Aircraft

Wings

Squadrons

Aircraft deployments

Command and Control

Personnel

References

External links

See also

Mission

AIRCOM is responsible for all aircraft operations in the Canadian Forces, enforcing the security of Canada's airspace and providing aircraft for supporting the missions of Maritime Command and Land Force Command. AIRCOM is a partner with the United States Air Force in protecting continental airspace under the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). AIRCOM also provides all primary air resources to the National Search and Rescue Program.

History

:''For history before 1968, see Royal Canadian Air Force''



Following unification on February 1, 1968, aircraft and bases of the RCAF and the Royal Canadian Navy (the Royal Canadian Naval Aviation Service), were scattered across several different commands of the newly unified forces.
Air Defence Command consisted primarily of former RCAF CF-101 Voodoo fighter-interceptor aircraft, as well as the radar networks of DEW Line, Mid-Canada Line and Pinetree Line early warning stations. Air Transport Command was responsible for strategic airlift and refueling aircraft, namely the CC-137 Husky, with the primary role being to transport ground troops from Mobile Command to and from distant conflict zones in Europe. Mobile Command itself was composed of former Canadian Army ground forces, as well as the army's tactical helicopters (CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136 Kiowa, CH-147 Chinook, CH-113A Voyageur) and the RCAF's tactical and ground attack aircraft (CF-104 Starfighter). Maritime Command was transferred responsibility for the newly-formed Maritime Air Group, which operated aircraft in support of former RCN vessels, including CH-124 Sea King, CP-107 Argus, and the CP-121 Tracker, some of which operated from HMCS ''Bonaventure'' until that vessel's retirement in the early 1970s. Pilot and aircrew training were taken over by Training Command, which was responsible for trades training across all other commands in the armed forces.
On August 9, 1974 a CC-115 Buffalo of No. 116 Transport Unit operating on UN duties was shot down by a Syrian Surface-to-air missile killing all nine CF personnel on board. This represents the single biggest loss of Canadian lives on a UN mission as well as the last Canadian military aircraft to be ''shot down''.
On September 2, 1975, the Canadian Forces saw a reorganization that merged all aircraft across all commands into a newly formed Air Command (AIRCOM). At this time, Air Defence Command and Air Transport Command were eliminated, and Training Command, Maritime Command, and Mobile Command (renamed Force Mobile Command) were realigned to reflect the new structure. AIRCOM was in-effect the modern rebirth of the RCAF as the new command would handle all the aviation requirements of Canada's military.
Duplication saw several base closings through the 1970s-1990s, largely as aircraft changes took place. The acquisition of the CF-18A/B Hornet tactical fighter bomber saw CF-104 Starfighter and CF-101 Voodoo fighter aircraft retired in the early-mid 1980s, along with a corresponding downturn in several bases which had been exclusively dedicated to these aircraft. The closures of CFB Chatham and CFB Baden Soellingen along with various bombing ranges and the retirement of the ''CF-116'' fighter aircraft and Boeing 707 transport/refuelling aircraft saw AIRCOM retract to its present base and force structure.
AIRCOM also underwent significant changes in the late 1970s when the CP-107 Argus and CP-121 Tracker were replaced with the CP-140 Aurora/CP-140A Arcturus maritime patrol aircraft. The shift of east coast maritime patrol aircraft at the time of the ''Argus'' retirement to CFB Greenwood eventually saw CFB Summerside closed in the late 1980s.
After unification, all personnel in the Canadian Forces wore a dark-green uniform with only cap and collar badges (a modified version of the former RCAF crest) as distinguishing marks for pilots and aircrew. This uniform continued under the newly-formed AIRCOM from 1975 until the mid-1980s, when AIRCOM returned to blue-grey uniforms broadly similar to those of the former to the RCAF, though the army-derived ranks adopted upon unification were retained.
In the early 1990s, AIRCOM transport and utility helicopters in support of army operations were cut back and consolidated with the purchase of the ''CH-146 Griffon'', replacing the ''CH-135 Twin Huey'', ''CH-136 Kiowa'', and ''CH-147 Chinook''. The army continues to consider this a loss of capability, particularly with the loss of the heavy lift Chinooks.
Search and rescue squadrons have also seen new aircraft when the ''CH-149 Cormorant'' replaced the ''CH-113 Labrador'' beginning in 2002. The ''CC-115 Buffalo'' short takeoff and landing fixed wing aircraft are also being replaced in the 2000s with a dedicated STOL search and rescue aircraft.
On May 17, 2007, an online petition was issued seeking grassroots support for the Maritime Command and Air Command to be renamed as the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, respectively, for the navy's 100th anniversary in 2010.^[1] The petition is to be sponsored by Member of Parliament Laurie Hawn.^[2]
Ship-borne anti-submarine helicopter squadrons are currently operating the 40-year old ''CH-124 Sea King'' with the new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone beginning in 2008.
In 2007 and 2008, 4 C-17 Globemaster III will be added.

Aircraft inventory

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Manufacture
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Canadian Designation
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service^[3]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| AgustaWestland EH101
|

| Search and Rescue Helicopter
| CH-149 Cormorant
| 15 - 1 aircraft lost in crash
| Entered service in 2002; stationed at 9 Wing Gander, NL, 8 Wing Trenton, ON, 14 Wing Greenwood, NS and 19 Wing Comox, BC
|-----
| Airbus A310
|

| Strategic Transport
Tanker/Transport
| CC-150 Polaris
A310-300 MRTT
| 3
2
| Originally ordered by Wardair, sold to Canadian Airlines and purchased by the military in 1992-1993; stationed at 8 Wing Trenton, ON
|-----
| BAE Hawk
|
| Fighter Lead-in Trainer
| CT-155 (Hawk 115)
| 12
| Leased since 2000; stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, SK and 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB
|-----
| Raytheon T-6
|
| Trainer
| CT-156 Harvard II
| 24
| Leased since 2000; stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, SK
|-----
| Bell 206
|
| Utility Helicopter / Helicopter Trainer
| CH-139 Jet Ranger
| 14
| Ordered in 1981 for 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at CFB Portage la Prairie, MB; used by Regular Forces in CFB Lahr in Germany and in Canada during the 1980s; now back at 3 CFFTS
|-----
| Bell 412
|
| Utility Transport Tactical Helicopter (UTTH)
| CH-146 Griffon
| 85 - 2 lost in crashes
| Order between 1995 to 1997; stationed at Bagotville, QC, Cold Lake, AB, Gagetown, NB, Valcartier, QC, Goose Bay, NL, Edmonton, AB, Petawawa, ON and Borden, ON; Also perform search and rescue duties
|-----
| Boeing CF-18 Hornet
|

| Fighter
Fighter/Attack
Fighter Lead-in Trainer
| 'CF-188 total'
CF-188A
CF-188B (2 seater)
| '80'
62
18
| 138 total delivered between 1982-1988; stationed at 3 Wing Bagotville, QC and 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB

Variant of the American F/A-18 Hornet
|-----
| Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
|
| Strategic Airlift
| CC-177
| 1
| 1 to be delivered October 2007, 2 more to be delivered in 2008
|-----
| Bombardier Challenger 600
|
| Utility Transport
VIP transport
| CC-144
| 2
4
| Ordered in 1982-1985 and 2002; Operated by 412(T) Sqn and based in Ottawa, but belong to 8 Wing Trenton (Utility Aircraft are 2 Blue CL601's and VIP Aircraft are White: 1 CL600, 1 CL601 and 2 newer CL604's)
|-----
| Canadair CT-114 Tutor
|
| Jet Demostration Aircraft
|
| 25; 20 remaining
| Entered service in 1962 as a basic and advanced jet trainer, replaced by the CT-156 Harvard II and CT-155 Hawk in 2000. Now used almost exclusively by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron "The Snowbirds"
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
|
| Fixed Wing Search and Rescue
| CC-115 Buffalo
| 6
| Ordered in 1967 and will be retired once a replacement found; all six fly for 442 Transport and Rescue Sqn. at 19 Wing Comox, BC
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
|
| Utility Transport
| CC-138
| 4
| Ordered in 1970; stationed at Yellowknife, NT
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8
|
| Aerial Navigation and Tactics Trainer
| CT-142
| 4
| Ordered in 1987 and 1989-90; operated by 402 "City of Winnepeg" Sqn and stationed at 17 Wing, Winnipeg, MB
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules
|
| Tactical Transport / Fixed Wing Search and Rescue
| 'CC-130 total'
CC-130E
CC-130H
CC-130H-30
KC-130H
| '30'
19
4
2
6; 5 configured for air-to-air refueling
| Ordered in 1960 to 1997; stationed at 14 Wing Greenwood, NS, 8 Wing Trenton, ON and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, MB. Two have since been retired due to the airframes timing out.[1]
|-----
| Lockheed P-3 Orion
|
| Maritime Reconnaissance, Search and Rescue and Fisheries & Arctic Patrol
| CP-140A Arcturus
| 3
| Ordered in 1991, were the last 3 P-3's to come off the Lockheed line in California
|-----
| Lockheed P-3 Orion
|
| Maritime Patrol / Anti-submarine Aircraft
| CP-140 Aurora
| 18
| Ordered in 1980; stationed at 19 Wing Comox, BC and 14 Wing Greenwood, NS
|-----
| SAGEM Sperwer
|
| Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance
| CU-161
| 19
|
|-----
| Sikorsky S-61 Sea King
|
| Ship-based Transport/Anti-submarine Helicopter
| CH-124
| 27
| Ordered from 1963 to 1969; to be replaced by CH-148 Cyclone; stationed at 12 Wing Shearwater, NS and Patricia Bay, BC
|-----
| Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk
|
| Ship-based Transport/Anti-submarine Helicopter
| CH-148 Cyclone
|
| 28 to be delivered starting in 2009
|}

Leased / Contractor Aircraft

The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Manufacture
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Canadian Designation
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service^[3]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-76
|
| Transport
|
| N/A
| via external contract with Skylink Aviation Inc for transporting equipment to Kandahar from Turkey or CFB Edmonton
|-----
| Mil Mi-17
|
| Medium lift helicopter
|
| N/A
| via contract with Skylink Aviation Inc for transporting equipment and troops in the Balkans and Afganistan
|-----
| Antonov An-225 Mriya
|
| Heavy lift helicopter
|
| N/A
| via contract for use in Pakistan
|}

Proposed Future Aircraft

Number	Builder	Model	Type	Dates
	Lockheed Martin	'F-35 Lightning II'	strike fighter	2018?
17[5]	Lockheed Martin	'C-130J Hercules'	short-medium haul tactical lift aircraft	2010
16[6]	Boeing Integrated Defense Systems	'CH-47 Chinook'	heavy lift helicopters	2009

Notes:

★ Canada has contributed $440 Million to the JSF program as a Tier III Partner^[7] but this does not commit Canada to purchasing the F-35 Lightning II.

★ The replacement for the current C-130E model Hercules is expected to be the C-130J model. Vendors have until August 8, 2006 to submit aircraft they believe meets the operational requirements.

Wings

There are 13 Air Force Wings across Canada. Wings represent the grouping of various squadrons, both operational and support, under a single tactical commander reporting to the operational commander. Ten Wings also include a Canadian Forces Base along with other operational and support units.

★ '1 Wing Kingston'
:The home of the CH-146 Griffon helicopter, 1 Wing provides airlift support of troops and equipment anywhere in the world. Its six tactical helicopter and training squadrons are spread out all across Canada.

★ '3 Wing Bagotville'
:Located in Quebec's Saguenay region, 3 Wing provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada's Air Force. It also provides search and rescue missions.

★ '4 Wing Cold Lake'
:The busiest fighter base in Canada, 4 Wing provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces in support of domestic and international roles of Canada's Air Force. Home of fighter pilot training for the Canadian Forces, 4 Wing attracts Top Gun crews from all over the world to its annual air combat exercise, Maple Flag.

★ '5 Wing Goose Bay'
:The site of NATO tactical low-level flight training in Canada, 5 Wing located in Labrador, is home to permanent detachments from the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Italian Aeronautica Militare and temporary training deployments from the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom). 5 Wing also serves as a NORAD CF-18 Hornet deployed operating base and airfield supporting a mix of aviation activities, military and civilian, in eastern Canada.

★ '8 Wing Trenton'
:The heart of Canada's air mobility forces, from delivering supplies to the high Arctic (CFS Alert) to airlifting troops and equipment worldwide. It is also responsible for search and rescue in central Canada and home to the world famous Skyhawks Parachute Team with the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre.

★ '9 Wing Gander'
:Providing search and rescue (SAR) services to northeastern Canada and the western Atlantic Ocean. SAR crews at 9 Wing Gander fly the CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and are responsible for a massive area, covering the lower Arctic, Labrador, Newfoundland and the North Atlantic from the shores of Newfoundland to 30ºW.

★ '12 Wing Shearwater'
:The centre of naval aviation in Canada, 12 Wing is home of the CH-124 Sea King helicopter, and supports the Canadian Navy with helicopter air detachments for surface warships in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.

★ '14 Wing Greenwood'
:Located in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, 14 Wing's CP-140 Aurora crews conduct sovereignty and surveillance missions over the Atlantic Ocean routinely, while SAR capabilities for the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and the eastern Arctic are provided by CH-149 Cormorant helicopters and CC-130 Hercules fixed wing aircraft.

★ '15 Wing Moose Jaw'
:The site of the NATO Flying Training Program in Canada, 15 Wing is also home to the Snowbirds, the Air Forces' aerobatic team.

★ '16 Wing Borden'
:Although this base does not have an airfield, it is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces. 16 Wing's schools offer air force technical training and professional development and is the historic birthplace of the RCAF.

★ '17 Wing Winnipeg'
:Comprised of three squadrons and six schools, 17 Wing also provides support to the Central Flying School, as well as headquarters and administration support for NORAD operations.

★ '19 Wing Comox'
:Located on Vancouver Island, its Aurora crews provide surveillance of the Pacific Ocean and western and Arctic regions. The Buffalo and Cormorant crews are responsible for search and rescue in British Columbia, the Yukon and the North Pacific Ocean. The base is also used for training fighter pilots in tactical procedures on nearby ranges.

★ '22 Wing North Bay'
:Represents one of Canada's major contributions to the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) agreement. From its underground complex at the Sector Air Operations Centre, technicians watch over Canada's airspace 24 hours a day, using state-of-the-art sensors, computer and communications equipment.
Former units includes:

★ '2 Wing Toronto'

★ '6 Wing' - information N/A

★ '7 Wing Ottawa'

★ '10 Wing' - information N/A

★ '11 Wing' - information N/A

★ '13 Wing' - information N/A

★ '18 Wing Edmonton' - information N/A

★ '20 Wing' - information N/A

★ '21 Wing' - information N/A

Squadrons

The following squadrons are currently active with the Canadian Forces and their assigned Wing.

★ 12 Radar Squadron/12ième Escadron de radar - 3 Wing Bagotville

★ 42 Radar Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 103 Search and Rescue Squadron - 9 Wing Gander

★ 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 402 Squadron Navigation School Squadron - 17 Wing Winnipeg

★ 403 Squadron Helicopter Operational Training Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 404 Squadron Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron - 14 Wing Greenwood

★ 405 Squadron Maritime Patrol Squadron - 14 Wing Greenwood

★ 406 Squadron Maritime Operational Training Squadron - 12 Wing Shearwater

★ 407 Squadron Maritime Patrol Squadron - 19 Wing Comox

★ 408 Squadron Tactical Helicopter Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 409 Tactical Figther Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 410 Squadron Tactical Fighter Training Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 412 Squadron Transport Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 413 Squadron Transport and Rescue Squadron - 14 Wing Greenwood

★ 416 Squadron Tactical Fighter Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 417 Squadron Combat Support Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 419 Squadron Tactical Fighter Training Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 423 Squadron Maritime Helicopter Squadron - 12 Wing Shearwater

★ 424 Squadron Transport and Rescue Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 425 Squadron Tactical Fighter Squadron - 3 Wing Bagotville

★ 426 Squadron Transport Training Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 427 Squadron Tactical Helicopter Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 429 Squadron Transport Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 430 Squadron Tactical Helicopter Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 431 Squadron Air Demonstration Squadron - 15 Wing Moose Jaw

★ 435 Squadron Transport and Rescue Squadron - 17 Wing Winnipeg

★ 436 Squadron Transport Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 437 Squadron Transport Squadron - 8 Wing Trenton

★ 438 Squadron Tactical Helicopter Squadron - 1 Wing Kingston

★ 439 Squadron Combat Support Squadron - 3 Wing Bagotville

★ 440 Squadron Transport Squadron - 17 Wing Winnipeg

★ 441 Squadron Tactical Training Squadron - 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 442 Squadron Transport and Rescue Squadron - 19 Wing Comox

★ 443 Squadron Maritime Helicopter Squadron - 12 Wing Shearwater

★ 444 Squadron Combat Support Squadron - 5 Wing Goose Bay
As part of a reorganization in 2005, three squadrons (415,433, and 429) were disbanded. 415 merged with 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, 429 merged with 436 Transport Squadron and 433 merged with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Further reorganization in 2006 will merge 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron and 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron -- the combined entity will be known as 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
On July 18th 2007, Honourable Gordon O’Connor, the Minister of National Defence, announced the re-establishment of 429 Transport Squadron for the purpose of housing the C-17 squadron. It will based once more at 8 Wing / CFB Trenton.^[8]

Aircraft deployments

Maritime patrol aircraft are based at:

★ 14 Wing Greenwood on the east coast

★ 19 Wing Comox on the west coast
SAR squadrons are based at:

★ 9 Wing Gander - 103 Squadron

★ 14 Wing Greenwood

★ 8 Wing Trenton

★ 19 Wing Comox
Transport and utility helicopters are based at:

★ CFB Borden

★ CFB Gagetown

★ 5 Wing Goose Bay

★ CFB Valcartier

★ CFB Petawawa

★ CFB Edmonton

★ RCAF Station St Hubert

★ 3 Wing Bagotville

★ 4 Wing Cold Lake
Transport and VIP aircraft are based at:

★ 8 Wing Trenton (Ottawa)

★ 17 Wing Winnipeg

★ 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 14 Wing Greenwood
Interceptor/tactical aircraft are based at:

★ 4 Wing Cold Lake

★ 3 Wing Bagotville
:with major low-level flying and bombing ranges for interceptor/tactical aircraft supported at 4 Wing Cold Lake and 5 Wing Goose Bay.
Maritime helicopters are based at:

★ 12 Wing Shearwater

★ Patricia Bay

Command and Control

The Commander of Air Command and the Chief of the Air Staff, Lieutenant-General Angus Watt, located at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, commands and provides strategic direction for the Air Force.

The Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region, MGen J.J.C. (Charlie) Bouchard, OMM, CD, is based in Winnipeg. He is responsible for the operational command and control of Air Force activities throughout Canada and world-wide.

Personnel

Regular Force personnel: 14,500

Reserve Force: 2,600

Civilians: 2,500

References

1. Petition to restore the Royal designation to the Canadian navy and Canadian air force
2. Correspondence with Laurie Hawn, CD, MP
3. "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', January 15 2007.
4. "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', January 15 2007.
5. Airlift Capability Project - Tactical MERX Website - Government of Canada
6. Medium to Heavy Lift Helicopter (MHLH) - ACAN MERX Website - Government of Canada
7. Joint Strike Fighter Signing Ceremony Department of Defense February 7, 2002.
8. 429 Transport Squadron At The Air Force’s Service Again: Air Force New Room

External links

★ Official web site

★ Official Website of The Air Command Band

See also

★ List of active Canadian military aircraft