Re: Royal Canadian Air Force

by **Accer** Thu 01 Jun 2023, 5:04 pm

Bombardier calls for 'fair competition' as Ottawa eyes sole-source contract for surveillance planes

Ashley Burke · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2023

Royal Canadian Air Force - Page 3 Britain-farnborough-air-show

CBC News

by Covert Tue 05 Sep 2023, 11:15 am

Former Canadian fighter pilots face RCMP probe over training work in China

ROBERT FIFE . STEVEN CHASE . OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

The RCMP are investigating three former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilots who are training military and civilian pilots in China, even though their employer, a South African flying academy, insists no sensitive information is being passed on to Chinese authorities.

The work the three pilots are doing in China has also come under scrutiny from Canadian security officials, who reached out to the former top guns in late August. The Department of National Defence says it referred the matter to the RCMP.

“The RCMP is aware of the report of former RCAF pilots taking part in training People’s Liberation Army Air Force pilots. As the RCMP is investigating these incidents, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time,” RCMP spokesperson Robin Percival told The Globe and Mail in a statement.

The Globe contacted former RCAF pilot Paul Umrysh to seek comment on speculation in Canada’s aviation community that he and two other former fighter pilots, Craig Sharp and David Monk, have been teaching flying skills in China.

Mr. Umrysh did not reply but instead forwarded the e-mail to his employer, Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), which is based in the Western Cape town of Oudtshoorn.

Edward Lee, a spokesman for TFASA, confirmed that Mr. Umrysh, Mr. Sharp and Mr. Monk are under contract to train pilots in China, adding that the company would speak for its employees. In fact, it issued several statements to address questions.

“Training always involves unclassified procedures, and materials are derived either from open source or from the clients themselves. The training TFASA provides never includes information about NATO,” Mr. Lee said. “TFASA has strict protocols and a code of conduct in place that are designed to prevent any TFASA employee sharing any information or training that is, or might be considered to be, legally or operationally sensitive, or security classified.”

The issue of Western military pilots instructing Chinese students arose last fall after British media reports that as many as 30 former U.K. top guns were working as instructors.

In June, the U.S. government targeted TFASA by imposing export controls on it and other companies for allegedly “providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources.” This activity “is contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” the U.S. Department of Commerce said at the time.

Mr. Lee confirmed that Canadian security officials identifying themselves as Public Safety Canada employees had contacted “a number of TFASA employees” on Aug. 24 to request that they stop working for the Chinese. He noted that “those conversations are ongoing.” However, he maintained that “any suggestion that the company, or its employees, offer assistance in equipping foreign powers with advanced tactics, techniques or procedures, or advanced technology, is simply incorrect.”

Eric Balsam, a spokesman for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, declined to discuss any possible dealings with the three pilots.

“In a world marked by economic competition and confrontation, some states pursue a strategy for geopolitical advantage on all fronts – economic, technological, political and military – and using all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty,” Mr. Balsam said.

Former CSIS director Richard Fadden said it is very concerning that former RCAF pilots would be helping China’s military.

“Just the fact that they are training is worrisome. But they are also taking with them all of their experience and knowledge of Western tactics and Western ways of thinking and, even inadvertently, if they pass this onto the Chinese, this is not helpful,” he said.

Mr. Fadden acknowledged that legally it would be difficult to instruct the three men to stop what they are doing and come home, but in the future, he said, the government needs to change the terms and conditions of military service and employment to prohibit former military officers from co-operating with China and other hostile states.

Mr. Lee insists TFASA is not doing anything illegal, citing discussions with U.S. and British officials.

“Recent communications between the FBI, the USAF Office of Special Investigations and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots indicates TFASA has broken no laws, as have communications from the U.K. Ministry of Defence,” he said, without providing any supporting documents.

When The Globe asked whether the Canadian men are training members of the People’s Liberation Army, the South African company said some students may end up in the military – but they are not being given Western defence secrets.

“TFASA notes that to do so would be illegal and that false allegations of illegality from whatever source are, of course, defamatory,” Mr. Lee said.

The Globe asked Mr. Umrysh in an e-mail to address speculation that the Canadians are training students on Chinese warplanes such as the Chengdu J-10 or J-11B, both multi-role fighters. He did not respond, and TFASA did not comment on this.

The flying academy said it’s not the only company providing training to clients in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Lee pointed to recently published information by China’s Ministry of Transport that authorized it to contract pilot training with three Canadian-based schools.

But none of those Canadian schools offers fighter jet training or operates in China.

“We don’t do fighter training,” said Josée Prudhomme, president of Montreal-based Cargair Flight Academy. “The only thing we do is train for airlines.”

Ian Kenney, vice-president of operations and training for B.C.-based Montair Aviation, said his company “does not send any of our instructors to China to deliver flight training,” nor does it have any former RCAF pilots on staff.

“We do not do any training on jets – military or otherwise – nor does our Transport Canada flight training unit operator certificate allow for that,” he said.

The Globe and Mail

by Xrayxservice Mon 25 Sep 2023, 8:10 pm

Canadian air force investigating 'inappropriate and unapproved' call sign broadcast on U.K. flight

Abby O'Brien . Published Sept. 25, 2023

CTV News Toronto

by Mojave Mon 02 Oct 2023, 5:09 pm

New aircraft expected to fix Canada's transport plane woes

The government in July signed a $3.6-billion deal to purchase nine aircrafts to replace Canada's aging fleet

Bryan Passifiume

Published Oct 02, 2023

As Canada’s prime minister wraps up a busy summer racking up mileage on government aircraft, the Royal Canadian Air Force is potentially just weeks away from introducing new transport aircraft that promises to make overseas VIP flights faster and easier.

Publicly available data from online fight trackers list CANFORCE ONE taking to the skies 42 times between the time the House rose for the summer on June 22, and the beginning of the fall sitting on Sept. 18 — logging 87,821 km.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s most common trip was the 360 kilometre hop between Ottawa and Toronto, which he embarked upon seven times over the summer.

Toronto was the destination of the Trudeau’s most recent trips — a flight Tuesday to take part in a 35-minute talk at an auto parts convention, and a pair of photo opportunities on Friday.

The prime minister embarked on three overseas trips this summer, kicking off June 25 with a three-day visit to Iceland for a meeting of the Nordic prime ministers.

That was followed a few weeks later with a four-day visit to Latvia and Lithuania from July 9 to 13, meeting with military leaders and to take part in a NATO summit.

The third overseas trip was Trudeau’s visit to Indonesia, Singapore and India earlier this month, which saw the prime minister’s aircraft — a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris — stranded for days in Delhi due to a mechanical breakdown, prompting officials to dispatch a rescue plane carrying technicians and spare parts.

By policy, Canada’s prime ministers are prohibited from flying commercially.

The prime minister relies upon a fleet of Bombardier Challenger 650 business jets operated by 412 Transport Squadron out of Ottawa airport for domestic flights.

For overseas trips involving large delegations or press attendance, travel is accommodated by a fleet of problematic CC-150 Polaris transport aircraft, handled by 437 Transport Squadron based at CFB Trenton.

While the Polaris — Canada’s long-lived transport and air-to-air refuelling platform — is well past obsolescence, a replacement program is just about to get underway.

In July, the RCAF signed a $3.6-billion agreement with Airbus to both acquire four new A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft, and convert five used A330-200 airliners for dual transport-refuelling capability.

Canada will designate the nine new aircraft as the CC-330 Husky.

These planes will replace the air force’s aging transport fleet, consisting of five CC-150 Polaris aircraft — military conversions of the venerable (and now obsolete) Airbus A310 airliner.

Canada’s Polaris fleet were originally civilian airliners for Wardair, and sold to the RCAF in the early ’90s after the now-defunct carrier was absorbed into Canadian Airlines.

The RCAF purchased two used A330-200 aircraft last July for $138 million.

One of those aircraft, 330002, arrived in Canada earlier this month and is expected to enter service later this fall as Canada’s primary executive transport aircraft for the prime minister and Governor General.

The second Husky, currently undergoing maintenance and painting, is expected to be delivered in December and enter service soon after.

The new planes have a 13,900 km range, according to the RCAF — compared to the Polaris’ 9,600 km range — and can also fly higher and faster.

At the same time the RCAF was entering into its agreement with Airbus, Canada purchased three additional used A330-200s for $203 million, with delivery expected in 2024.

Upon delivery, those aircraft will be used for cargo, troop and passenger operations.

“This could include the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces troops within Canada or overseas, and the movement of civilian passengers in support of humanitarian relief operations and strategic Government of Canada transport, including transport of the Prime Minister, Governor General, and others,” said a statement from the Department of National Defence.

In time, the used aircraft will be converted by Airbus into air-to-air refuelling tankers.

Under Canada’s Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project, tanker-configured Huskies will support Canadian and allied missions to fulfil obligations under Norad, and are capable of keeping six CF-18s fully fuelled during a transatlantic crossing.

Ottawa-based research consultant Steffan Watkins said that, considering the current state of the Polaris fleet, the new planes can’t arrive quickly enough.

“The most important feature of CC-330 Husky 330002 is that it works,” he said.

“It can carry more people farther, but right now anything is better than a deteriorating Airbus 310-based fleet that is spending a lot of time under maintenance.”

Earlier this month, Polaris 15001 — the plane primarily used by prime ministers travelling abroad — suffered a mechanical breakdown, stranding Canada’s G20 summit delegation in Delhi for days.

Polaris 15002, the rescue plane dispatched by air force officials to repair that stricken aircraft, is one of only two planes in the fleet currently operational.

15001, Watkins said, has sat idle at CFB Trenton and hasn’t flown since arriving home from India two weeks ago.

That same plane spent months undergoing repairs in 2019 after it rolled away from crews at CFB Trenton and collided nose-first into a wall.

Polaris 15003 has been marooned at an American air force base in Guam since July after colliding with another plane.

According to an official occurrence summary, 15003 — participating in a joint exercise organized by the USAF Air Mobility Command — rolled into a French Air Force A400M after being parked insecurely with unchocked wheels the previous evening.

The collision tore a deep gash into 15003’s vertical stabilizer and rudder, nearly severing it.

While some observers believe the plane is beyond repair and may be scrapped in situ, the DND says a final decision on 15003’s fate has yet to be determined.

“The final investigation into this matter is currently ongoing. (A) flight safety investigation report will be produced and released after its conclusion,” read a statement from defence spokesperson Andrew McKelvey.

“As for the aircraft itself, a course of action is still being determined.”

15004 has been laid up in Montreal for three weeks, most likely for maintenance, Watkins said, and 15005 is busy refuelling Canadian fighter jets taking part in an exercise in the U.K.

Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the government has its work cut out for them keeping the project’s costs under control.

“The feds seem to have a hard time parking a plane, so how are they going to make sure the costs don’t run away on taxpayers?” he said.
“Time and time again, we’ve seen big procurement budgets balloon, so the feds must make sure there are guardrails in place to keep taxpayers from paying an even bigger bill.”
This is the second big aviation deal penned by Canada this year.

In January, Canada finalized an estimated $70-billion deal to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, replacements for the aging CF-18 fleet.

The RCAF is expected to take delivery of their first four jets in 2026.

• Email: bpassifiume@postmedia.com | X: @bryanpassifiume

Cold Lake Sun

by Covert Tue 24 Oct 2023, 11:15 am

Local veteran recounts 'terrifying times' in RCAF during Cold War

The 86-year-old has been invited to speak at the Bradford West Gwillimbury library on Nov. 10

Tyler Evans . Oct 23, 2023

An Orillia veteran has written a book to share his experiences as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Cold War.

Scott Maclagan, a graduate of Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute, released his book Cold War Over Canada earlier this week. He joined the RCAF when he was 18 and flew an all-weather jet interceptor over Canada defending a potential attack from Soviet bombers.

Maclagan, 86, was a backseat navigator and radar operator until 1959 when he was grounded for eyesight deterioration. He decided to write about his story while being isolated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I wrote this story to get recognition for my pilot," he said. "We saved three other aircrafts during our time together by guiding them into emergency landings."

Without the exceptional piloting talents of Dave Strachan, Maclagan says he and other RCAF members wouldn't be alive today.

"I learned through one of his daughters that Dave died very frustrated with the lack of recognition," he said. "So, I decided to write the book and hopefully something will be done for him down the road."

Maclagan says his book is mostly written for military personnel but can be enjoyed by everybody.

"It's about a guy who saved my life and the lives of so many others, many times," he said. "It's a great story that I think everybody can enjoy."

Now six decades removed from his time in the RCAF, Maclagan says he is excited to share his experiences with the public.

"Being in the RCAF shaped my life," he said. "From 18 to 25, being in the military gave me a grounding, self-responsibility, leadership, and a variety of things that I would have never got from a university anywhere in the world."

Since releasing his book, Maclagan has been invited to speak at the Bradford West Gwillimbury library on Nov. 10 to share with the public more about his experiences.

"It's important that I get to share this story," he said. "There were a number of us who joined the Air Force after Grade 12 or 13. They were terrifying times but thoroughly enjoyable."

In his book, Maclagan recounts a specific time when he watched aircrafts collide in training which caused fellow servicemen to be killed right in front of his eyes.

"We saw so many deaths," he said. "It's impossible to count how many."

Maclagan's new book is the only published account of the experiences of a Cold War flier over Canada. In it, he recounts his recruitment by the air force, the early training which graduated only two of 100 young men, and his many adventures flying as a navigator in the two-man Canadian-built jet CF-100.

He and his pilot partner were in line to fly the famed Avro Arrow which was to replace the CF-100. Ironically, as Maclagan tells in this memoir, he was able to denounce the decision to cancel the Arrow shortly after when he came face to face with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

Bradford Today News

by Spectrum Thu 26 Oct 2023, 11:40 am

Ottawa’s plans to buy Boeing planes based on ‘incorrect’ information, Bombardier CEO says

Noe Santo . October 26, 2023

Bombardier President and CEO Eric Martel presents the new Challenger 3500 in Montreal on September 14, 2021. In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Martel said Ottawa appears to have decided to buy the planes Boeing P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft. .The Canadian Press

The Canadian government is preparing to spend up to $10 billion to buy new military surveillance planes from American giant Boeing Co. TO FORBID based on “very erroneous and invalid information,” says Bombardier Inc. BBD-BT general director Éric Martel. The move is short-sighted and will harm the country as Bombardier and other national players try to develop their defense potential in the years to come, he insists.

In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Martel said Ottawa appears to have decided to purchase Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance jets from the Virginia-based aircraft manufacturer under a sole-source contract. without a formal request for proposals. He said his team understood that the government intended to invoke a national security exception in its decision to accelerate the transaction and avoid exposing itself to legal challenges.

“I think we were misled,” Mr. Martel said of the government’s procurement process. “Other countries are knocking on our door today because they see ours as the product of the future, which is a bit mind-boggling when you consider that in our own country we are not even taken taken into account at the present time.”

Bombardier and several other Canadian manufacturers have been pushing for an open call for tenders to supply the government’s Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project, which aims to find a replacement for the CP-140 Aurora military jets. The contract, estimated to be worth between $6 billion and $10 billion, is one of the largest military purchases in years. Boeing has told Canada it could stop building its plane in 2025 if no additional orders are placed.

The Bombardier CEO’s open criticism speaks to the high stakes as countries increase military spending amid growing geopolitical tensions – not just for the government but also for the company. Ottawa wants to avoid repeating the embarrassments of military procurement projects like the Lockheed Martin The F-35 strike fighter fiasco a decade ago and the delays on others, such as the purchase of Airbus Kingfisher search and rescue planes. Bombardier, for its part, wants to avoid having to explain to future military customers why it cannot do business with its home government.

The Montreal company Bombardier has joined forces with its rival General Dynamics Corp. GD-None of the largest in the world defense contractors, on a surveillance aircraft with submarine-hunting capability that they say would meet the military’s needs. Bombardier is providing the jet, a modified version of its Global 6500 model, while General Dynamics is providing much of the “mission systems,” including sonar equipment and satellite communications.

The government declined to issue a formal call for proposals, opting instead for a request for information (RFI) sent last year to get a sense of the capabilities of potential suppliers. It also used a third-party consultancy, the US company Avascent, to obtain an outside opinion on the solutions available to replace the Aurora aircraft.

In March, Public Services and Procurement Canada said it had sent a request through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program to explore the viability of purchasing 16 Boeing P-8As. Analysts say this is further evidence that Boeing is close to winning the contract.

Olivier Pilon, spokesperson for Jean-Yves Duclos, federal minister of public procurement, said Mr. Duclos and his team are in contact with many stakeholders linked to the aircraft contract, including Bombardier. “Discussions on replacing the aircraft fleet are ongoing and no final decision has been made,” Pilon said. Department of National Defense officials did not respond to questions sent by The Globe.

Bombardier worked behind the scenes to better understand the government’s thinking, meeting with bureaucrats and lawmakers to push for an open tender. During one of those meetings, Mr. Martel said he and Pierre Sein Pyun, Bombardier’s vice president of government affairs, were stunned when an official — “a decision maker,” in their words — told them that military acquisitions had been so problematic in recent years. years that Ottawa intends to proceed with sole-source contracts where possible to save time and hassle.

“It became clear to us that the P-8 was the easy button,” Mr. Pyun said. “They don’t want to bother with an open bidding process…They’ve been burned by some programs that have nothing to do with us.”

Last week, senior officials from the departments of National Defence, Public Services and Procurement, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada appeared before a Commons committee to answer questions about a possible purchase of Boeing P-8.

Simon Page, assistant deputy minister for defense and maritime procurement, said that based on Avascent’s findings, the project team concluded it would be “very challenging” for the Canadian industry to develop and deliver an aircraft within a time frame consistent with the lifespan of the CP-140 aircraft currently in use. Mr. Martel disputed Avascent’s competence to make this assessment and said the consulting firm had never met with Bombardier or any other local aerospace company.

In their testimony, the senior officials also stated that of the 23 submissions received as part of the RFI process, the Boeing aircraft was the only “military standard” product that could meet the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. Mr. Martel says having a commercially available product was never an explicitly stated requirement in the RFI. According to Mr. Pyun, the RFI instead asked respondents if they could propose a solution by the end of the 2030s. The timeline was later changed to require first deliveries in 2032, a deadline that Bombardier and General Dynamics can respect, according to him.

Adding to the confusion, Boeing’s proposed offering for Canada, the Block 2 version of the P-8A, is still in development until 2025, meaning it’s not really commercially available, while That the P1 plane from Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki, which is in the mix, is flying now and should be considered commercially available, Mr. Martel said. After Ottawa received the RFI submissions, federal officials responded to Canadian companies who then contacted the government, but never formally followed up with potential bidders to exchange additional information.

“The Government of Canada is about to invest $6 billion to $10 billion in potentially very erroneous and invalid information,” Mr. Martel and Joel Houde, director of General Dynamics, wrote this week in a letter to Mr. Duclos. “How can Canadian government officials conclude that there is no Canadian solution when no aerospace experts have met with Canadian industry to review the detailed engineering behind the alternatives from the Canadian industry?

Federal officials have cited as a significant advantage the fact that several of Canada’s closest military allies use the Boeing P-8, including the United States and all other members of the Five Eyes intelligence pact. Bombardier counters that several of these countries are seeking alternatives or modifications to the planes due to operational shortcomings and costs.

According to Bombardier, countries with domestic aircraft manufacturing capacity have not purchased the P-8. France, for example, is launching the development of its own multi-mission aircraft.

Martel said Canada should adopt the same long-term thinking, looking beyond this single military procurement contract to consider how it could help build a stronger domestic military manufacturing base. Bombardier already builds a handful of specialized planes each year that are used by other countries – it has jets that fly missions for the US government over Afghanistan, for example – but it has the ambition to considerably develop its military activities in the years to come.

“There are over 180 P-8s flying up there and we think we could replace the majority of them in the future,” Martel said, adding that Canada aerospace The sector was born from military beginnings before taking a more commercial direction. “There is clearly a pathway here where we can bring our industry back and be proud of it. »

National Times Today

by **Colter** Wed 29 Nov 2023, 4:48 pm

Boeing poised for sole-sourced military patrol plane deal worth billions: report

By Christopher Reynolds . The Canadian Press Posted November 29, 2023

The federal government is expected to announce as early as Thursday that it has selected Boeing to replace the military’s aging patrol planes in a multibillion-dollar deal, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The decision to go with a sole-source contract would close the door on Quebec-based business jet maker Bombardier, which has been pushing for an open bid.

The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said that last week cabinet green-lit the purchase of 16 P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft to replace the half-century-old CP-140 Auroras.

Two of the sources, including a senior government official, said the Treasury Board held a special meeting Tuesday night and approved the contract, which a U.S. agency has listed at US$5.9 billion (C$8 billion).

The procurement department has stated that Boeing’s off-the-shelf reconnaissance plane is “the only currently available aircraft that meets all of the CMMA (Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft) operational requirements” — particularly around submarine-hunting technology.

The government’s decision to bypass Bombardier by foregoing an open bid stands in contrast to a recent move by the Canadian Commercial Corporation. The Crown agency, which is mandated to help domestic companies access foreign government procurement markets, signed a memorandum of understanding last week to support export opportunities for the Bombardier plane.

Earlier this month, a parliamentary committee also demanded that Ottawa ensure an open bidding process for the new planes, passing a motion that asks the government to put out a request for proposals.

Bombardier CEO Eric Martel has argued that its aircraft — currently a prototype, and slated to roll off the line in the early 2030s — would offer a cheaper and more high-tech alternative that’s made in Canada.

The company joined forces earlier this year with a Canadian subsidiary of U.S.-based General Dynamics Mission Systems on a patrol aircraft, a modified version of its Global 6500 business jet with submarine-detection gear. The Global 6500 is in use by several militaries, including in the United States and United Arab Emirates, but not yet for maritime patrol.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to confirm whether a decision to bet on Boeing had been made.

“The ministers will address that issue in time,” he told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Bombardier and Boeing declined to comment.

Some Canadian aerospace companies have pushed back against the idea that a Bombardier contract win would be best for the sector, saying that a deal between Ottawa and Boeing could be at least as lucrative for suppliers.

But Michael Hood, the former commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force who Bombardier has hired as an adviser, said it’s “baffling” that the government would rule out a Canadian firm by shutting the door on proposals.

“Everything’s going to be engineered, built and maintained in Canada. And all of the salaries that go with it are going to be maintained,” he said of a hypothetical Bombardier selection. In contrast, Boeing planes would be engineered and assembled in the U.S.

“France, the U.S., Brazil, they make no pretense about supporting their domestic aerospace industry.”

An open bid could also bring down the price tag on the Boeing planes.

“When you buy through a foreign military sale — the FMS — you don’t get the benefit of people sharpening their pencils for a competitive price,” he said. “On the FMS, it’s a take-it-or-leave-it.

“At the end of the day, maybe the P-8 is the best aircraft. But we’ll never know without a competition,” Hood said.

Global News

by Firefox Wed 13 Dec 2023, 8:18 am

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum recently acquired the last operational Buffalo CC-115, a tactical transport and search-and-rescue aircraft that retired from the air force in 2022. CBC's Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco got a chance to peek inside.

Dec 12, 2023

by **Riverway** Fri 19 Jan 2024, 11:21 am

Lifetime cost of military's Cyclone choppers set to soar past $14B, government document reveals

Internal estimate obtained by CBC News now pegs the cost of sustaining the aircraft at $10B

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Jan 19, 2024

CBC News

by Spartan Wed 07 Feb 2024, 11:45 am

The Royal Canadian Air Force's Centennial

Feb. 7, 2024

The Royal Canadian Air Force is celebrating a huge milestone to commemorate the 100th anniversary. Here to tell us all about it is Ginette Petitpas Taylor, she the Veterans Affairs Minister and Associate National Defence Minister.

CTV News Video Clip

by Marshall Thu 08 Feb 2024, 4:48 pm

City of Barrie working with military to mark RCAF's 100th anniversary

Dana Roberts . Published Feb. 8, 2024

CTV News

by Lucifer Mon 18 Mar 2024, 6:51 am

The Canadian Air Force's Incoming A330 MRTTs: What We Know So Far

The Canadian government has released more information about its plan to operate a fleet of 9 A330MRTTs.

BY CHRIS LOH . PUBLISHED March 17, 2024

Since our last look at the Canadian government's plan to operate the Airbus A330 MRTT, much more information has been released. The aircraft type has a Canadian military designation, more jets have been ordered, and the government has also given the media a tour of the interior of the new aircraft in its interim configuration. This article will explore the latest news regarding Canada's new Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft.

The CC-330 Husky
Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) has officially designated its Airbus A330 MRTT as the CC-330 Husky. As noted by the government, the name Husky was "chosen for the CC-330 due to its long history with the RCAF’s 437 (Transport) Squadron." The husky has served as the squadron's mascot since 1944 and also serves as its callsign ("Husky"). Additionally, the government notes that the "hardy Husky dog is known for its great endurance and ability to withstand cold weather, its unwavering dependability and overall toughness."

The jet is the core of the DND's Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project, which will see nine of these A330-200s modified and adapted for military use.

Facts and figures are as follows:
Flight crew: 2
Air refueling operator: 1
Cabin crew: 8
Passengers: 250+
Maximum payload: 45 metric tons (includes 37 metric tons of cargo)
Range 13,900 km (7,505 NM) (assuming a 10 ton payload)
Service ceiling 13,000 m (42,651 feet)
Contract value: C$3.6 billion or US$2.65. This figure excludes taxes, as well as costs for associated equipment, training capability, integrated logistic support, and sustainment.
Additionally, the Canadian government notes that the estimated life expectancy of the entire project is 30 years.

Replacing the CC-150 Polaris
The acquisition of the CC-330 Huskies is meant to replace the RCAF's fleet of CC-150 Polaris aircraft. The military currently has four of these modified Airbus A310s. There were previously five, although one had to be written off in July 2023 due to a ground collision at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. The jet, registered 15003, was participating in a multinational exercise organized by the United States Air Force.

The aging jets have become a point of embarrasment for the Canadian government, as technical issues have caused delays to high-level government activities. In September 2023, one of these jets broke down in New Delhi, following the G-20 Summit. This led to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being stranded in India for a short time.

In a way, the RCAF's transition from the CC-150 to the CC-330 is not unlike the German government's painful transition from its A340-300s to the new A350-900s. The A340s had experienced technical issues on multiple occasions, disrupting plans in 2018 for then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and later Foreign Secretary Annalena Baerbock in August 2023. Indeed, it was very shortly after the August 2023 incident that the German government announced that it would be retiring the A340s with immediate effect.

Where the 'new' aircraft come from
All A330 MRTTs start off as standard commercial A330-200s. To be converted, these airframes may go to the Airbus Military Conversion Centre in Getafe, Spain for fitting of refueling systems and military avionics. It's worth noting, however, that the Royal Australian Air Forces's MRTTs had been converted in Brisbane by Qantas Defense Services.

While Spain's A330 MRTTs came from Iberia, and Australia's jets were previously Qantas passenger aircraft, five of the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) CC-330s come from Kuwait Airways. All five came via two "competitive contracts" awarded to International AirFinance Corporation (IAFC). The price for all five added up to US$252 million before taxes. The deal includes both procurement and preparation of the jets.

Indeed, as per data from Planespotters.net, these are the five A330-200s that have been acquired from the Middle Eastern carrier, including their registrations and manufacturer serial numbers (MSNs):

9K-APC with MSN 1653 (now 330002)
9K-APD with MSN 1678 (now 330003)
9K-APA with MSN 1626
9K-APB with MSN 1643
9K-APE with MSN 1681
It looks like APB and APE have already been pulled from service and are in the process of being transferred. However, APA is currently still flying with the airline. At the time of this article's publication, Flightradar24 data indicates that the jet completed a return trip back to Kuwait City from Mumbai. The very first CC-330 Husky (ex-9K-APC, now 330002) entered service with the RCAF on November 9th, 2023.

As for the remaining four aircraft not part of the two IAFC deals, these will come brand new and will be directly from Airbus. The first of these new jets will undergo conversion in mid-2025, with the first MRTT to be delivered to the RCAF in 2027.

Retaining commercial configurations until 2027
As per a government infographic released in September 2023, the jets will retain their commercial configurations for now. This means that they will essentially have Kuwait Airways interiors. Canadian media were given a tour of the 'new' jet in November, and with the photos that have been published, it can be confirmed that the seating is essentially unchanged from Kuwait Airways.

While it's unclear if the RCAF has made any changes to the quantity of seats, we know that Kuwait Airways' A330-200s are configured with 17 first class seats, 30 business class, and 165 economy class seats. The naming is slightly dated, as first class seating appears to be more of a business class pod, while business class looks like what many airlines would call premium economy.

Considering the fact that the jet registered 330002 is designated as VIP transport for high-level government travel, this particular aircraft might just keep its commercial configuration indefinitely.

Once converted, an aeromedical configuration of the jets will be able to carry a minimum of six ambulatory patients, two critical care patients, eight non-critical care patients, 24 aeromedical evacuation crew members, and 144 passengers. When it comes to air-to-air refuelling, the aircraft will have a fuel capacity of 111,000 kg - capable of refueling a minimum of 6 RCAF fighter aircraft over the Atlantic in a single leg.

Infrastructure upgrades
As highlighted by AeroTime, infrastructure upgrades will be needed to handle the larger fleet of aircraft. Indeed, C$850 ($628 million) will be invested to upgrade Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, the designated home of the RCAF's strategic airlift fleet.

Money will be spent on essential airfield and infrastructure improvements at the airbase, including the development and design of a two-bay hangar. There will also be upgrades to the apron and runway, taxiways, and other supporting infrastructure.

Bottom line
The incoming A330s are arriving at the right time - if not a little later than would have been ideal. Indeed, the first delivery was supposed to take place in late 2022.

As highlighted by CBC, the aircraft will be able to carry at least 80 more passengers and fly more than 3,000 kilometers (1,620 NM) further than the Polaris aircraft they are replacing. The Canadian government notes that the outgoing jets have limited the RCAF's capabilities, stating, "the current fleet is aging and cannot effectively perform all of its operational requirements, which has resulted in decreased mission flexibility."

Simple Flying

by Whiskey Mon 01 Apr 2024, 4:22 pm

As the Royal Canadian Air Force turns 100, there is a way to show your support

Written by Stephen Strand Sunday, Mar 31 2024

April 1, 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Even though Canada had an air force since the First World War, it wasn't until 1924 that they were granted Royal Sanction by King George V to create the Royal Canadian Airforce.

To help celebrate this achievement and honour those who have and currently are serving in the Air Force, people and businesses around the world are encouraged to illuminate their place of work or home with blue on April 1 to show their support for the Air Force.

"As of right now, we are over 430 locations in 25 countries. Peru actually just joined in the list of countries this morning," explained Captain Aaron Niles, Strategic Planner and Public Affairs Officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial Day. "The Canadian Embassy in Peru is going to be one of the locations that will be illuminating."

With several of the landmarks around the world displaying blue for a full 24 hours, Captain Niles says that several locations around the world will showing displays over the entire Easter long weekend.

If you are wanting to participate, Captain Niles says there are a few different ways you can.

"Easiest one is to light up their houses or businesses, etc, in blue. This can be done in any way, whether it be a blue LED light, Christmas lights, etc. And post a photo on their social medias using some of our hashtags, such as #RCAF100 and #100YearsOfFlyingBlue," says Captain Niles. "If not, we encourage people to wear blue, to utilize blue whenever they can on April 1st, just to help commemorate the Air Force Centennial."

Ideally, they are hoping for people to illuminate their places with Air Force Blue, which is 297C Pantone, but Niles says that any blue will do.

"One of the main features, not just in Illuminations, but of the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial is the idea of YOUR Air Force," says Captain Niles. "That's the theme. It's not just people who have served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, whether in the past or present who can take ownership. Every Canadian who has ever been born, this Air Force belongs to them. They can take pride and ownership of the Air Force. And so, this is a way of helping Canadians to light up, not only in celebration of the Air Force Centennial and the men who serve, also recognize that they played a part in the proud history the Royal Canadian Air Force has had for over 100 years now."

The RCAF is hoping that enough people around the world will participate to break the Guinness World Record for the most landmarks illuminated within 24 hours.

Captain Niles says it's looking like they may actually break that record.

For anyone who wishes to participate and wants their name and location added to the RCAF website of supporters, feel free to email Captain Aaron Niles at aaron.niles@forces.gc.ca.

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