CFB Moose Jaw

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

15 Wing Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw/Air Vice Marshal C.M. McEwen Airport
CFB Moose Jaw Airport.jpg
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Government of Canada
Operator DND
Location RM of Moose Jaw No. 161
Time zone CST (UTC−06:00)
Elevation  AMSL 1,892 ft / 577 m
Coordinates 50°19′49″N105°33′33″W / 50.33028°N 105.55917°W / 50.33028; -105.55917
Map
Canada Saskatchewan relief location map.jpg
Airplane silhouette.svg
CYMJ
Location in Saskatchewan
Canada relief map 2.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
CYMJ
CYMJ (Canada)
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
ftm
03/213,4001,036Asphalt
11L/29R8,3262,538Asphalt
11R/29L7,2802,219Asphalt

Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw( IATA : YMJ, ICAO : CYMJ), also known as 15 Wing Moose Jaw, is a Canadian Forces base located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is home to RCAF Pilot training and 431 Squadron, the Snowbirds, which is the RCAF's air demonstration squadron.

Contents

The base's airfield is named after Air Vice-Marshal Clifford McEwen and is one of only three military aerodromes in Canada to be named after an individual, Valcartier (W/C J.H.L. (Joe) Lecomte) Heliport and Cold Lake/Group Captain R.W. McNair Airport being the others.

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The customs service is restricted to 15 Wing – Moose Jaw aircraft only. [1]

History

A civilian flying club aerodrome was established on the site south-southwest of Moose Jaw in 1928 by the Moose Jaw Flying Club. Its location surrounded by flat open prairie proved to be an ideal training site.

RCAF Station Moose Jaw

The declaration of World War II saw the Moose Jaw Flying Club initially contracted to provide pilot training for the Royal Canadian Air Force; however this was soon replaced by the far larger British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) which saw the Government of Canada acquire the aerodrome and completely reconstruct it into RCAF Station Moose Jaw in 1940 with the new aerodrome opening in 1941.

Initially the Royal Air Force trained exclusively at the base under the RAF's No. 32 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) (ca. 1942) using Harvards, and later, Oxfords. No. 32 SFTS eventually broadened its intake to train 1,200 pilots for the air forces of Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, France, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, the United States, and the Netherlands. [3]

Aerodrome information

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°20′N105°33′W / 50.333°N 105.550°W / 50.333; -105.550 with a variation of 18 degrees east and elevation of 1,900 ft (580 m). Six runways were listed as follows: [4]

Runway nameLengthWidthSurface
13/312,760 ft (840 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced
13/312,820 ft (860 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced
8/262,760 ft (840 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced
8/263,120 ft (950 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced
2/202,760 ft (840 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced
2/202,820 ft (860 m)100 ft (30 m)Hard surfaced

RCAF Station Moose Jaw had two relief landing fields. One was located at Buttress, Saskatchewan and one at Burdick (Moose Jaw Municipal Airport) .

In 1946 RCAF Station Moose Jaw was decommissioned and the aerodrome was returned to civilian service.

Because of rising Cold War tensions, the aerodrome was reactivated by the RCAF in 1953 as the site of military pilot training. RCAF Station Moose Jaw undertook additional construction to support its expanded personnel complement. The base was used by the RCAF and its NATO allies for pilot training, using both single-prop World War II-era Harvards and Canadair CT-133 Silver Star jet training aircraft. By the mid-1960s these were both replaced by the Canadian built CT-114 Tutor.

CT-114 Tutor jet trainer and the old Moose Jaw control tower in the spring of 1982 CFBMooseJaw01.JPG
CT-114 Tutor jet trainer and the old Moose Jaw control tower in the spring of 1982

The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at RCAF Base Chapel. [5]

CFB Moose Jaw

In 1968 the RCAF merged with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Navy to form the unified Canadian Forces. The base's name was changed to Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, usually shortened to CFB Moose Jaw. From 1968 until the formation of Air Command in 1975, CFB Moose Jaw fell under the direction of Training Command and served to house the Tutor Jet Training Program.

By the early 1990s, CFB Moose Jaw was operated by over 1,300 employees and made a significant economical impact on the region, but pending cutbacks in military spending spread rumours of possible closure of the base. In 1994, the Government of Canada awarded Bombardier with a 20-year contract to support the delivery of what is now the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program. Many of the base's structures were renovated to accommodate new personnel and new training aircraft. Pilots from Denmark, Singapore, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Finland, and many other allied nations train at CFB Moose Jaw every year, ensuring the base's future with the Canadian Forces. In 2015, Bombardier sold its NFTC contract to CAE who are currently the prime contractor.

CT-114 Tutors belonging to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School parked on the ramp at CFB Moose Jaw, 1982 CFBMooseJaw02.JPG
CT-114 Tutors belonging to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School parked on the ramp at CFB Moose Jaw, 1982

From 1970 until its disbandment in 1993 Moose Jaw had a Base Rescue Flight flying three CH-118 Huey helicopters. [6]

During a reorganization at AIRCOM in the late 1990s, CFB Moose Jaw's various AIRCOM units were placed under a new primary lodger unit called "15 Wing"; consequently the base is now referred to as 15 Wing Moose Jaw.

Current operations

Base Rescue Moose Jaw CH-118 Iroquois helicopters at CFB Moose Jaw, 1982 BellCH-118Huey118109and118101.JPG
Base Rescue Moose Jaw CH-118 Iroquois helicopters at CFB Moose Jaw, 1982

15 Wing Moose Jaw is home to the following units:

CFB Moose Jaw

Integral Units

Canadian Armed Forces Lodger Units

Other Lodger Units

NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC)

  • CAE Inc - Prime Contractor
    • Serco [7] [8] - Air Traffic Control, Air Information Services, and Ground Electronic Services
    • ATCO Frontec [9] [8] - Facilities Management, Vehicle and Logistics Services, Fire/Crash Rescue Services, Airfield Infrastructure, Flight Training Facilities

Southport Aerospace Centre

Integral Units

Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS)

  • KF Aerospace [10] - Prime Contractor
    • Canadian Base Operators [10] - Air Traffic Control, Fire and Crash Support, Airfield Maintenance, Food Services, Administrative Support, IMIT, Housekeeping and Aeronatuical Information Services
    • Bluedrop Training & Simulation [10] - Coursewear development
    • Canadian Helicopters [10] - Helicopter maintenance and ground-based and simulation instructors.

Future Aircrew Training Program (FAcT)

The NATO Flying Training in Canada [11] and Contracted Flying Training and Support [12] contracts expire in 2027. Future Aircrew Training Program (FAcT) will replace these two contracts as well as create a new contracted system for Air Combat Systems Officers and Airborne Electronic Sensors Operators. After the REquest for proposals going out on 11 February 2022, the new contract is expected to be awarded in 2023.

Prospective bidders

Raytheon CT156 Harvard II at CFB Moose Jaw, 3 November 2005 RaytheonCT156HarvardII156121.JPG
Raytheon CT156 Harvard II at CFB Moose Jaw, 3 November 2005

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Commonwealth Air Training Plan</span> Joint military aircrew training program during World War II

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), or Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War. BCATP remains one of the single largest aviation training programs in history and was responsible for training nearly half the pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, air gunners, wireless operators and flight engineers who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowbirds (aerobatic team)</span> Canadas military flight demonstration squadron

The Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The team is based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Snowbirds' official purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The team also provides a public relations and recruiting role, and serves as an aerial ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces. The Snowbirds are the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron.

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1914, with the formation of the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) that was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It consisted of one aircraft that was never called into service. In 1918, a wing of two Canadian squadrons called the Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in England and attached to the Royal Air Force, but it also would never see wartime service. Postwar, an air militia also known as the Canadian Air Force was formed in Canada in 1920. In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when it was granted the royal title by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Shearwater</span> Airport in Shearwater, Nova Scotia

Shearwater Heliport, formerly known as Canadian Forces Base Shearwater and commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater and formerly named HMCS Shearwater, is a Canadian Forces facility located 4.5 nautical miles east southeast of Shearwater, Nova Scotia, on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Following a base rationalization program in the mid-1990s, the Canadian Forces closed CFB Shearwater as a separate Canadian Forces base and realigned the property's various facilities into CFB Halifax. These include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadair CT-114 Tutor</span> Military training aircraft

The Canadair CT-114 Tutor is a jet trainer that was designed and produced by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair. It served as the standard jet trainer of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and later Canadian Armed Forces, between the early 1960s and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Air Force</span> Air warfare and space branch of the Canadian Armed Forces

The Royal Canadian Air Force is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074 Regular Force and 1,969 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles. Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and chief of the Air Force Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Greenwood</span> Air force base in Canada

Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, or CFB Greenwood, is a Canadian Forces Base located 1.5 nautical miles east of Greenwood, Nova Scotia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus anti-submarine/maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 14 Wing, commonly referred to as 14 Wing Greenwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Comox</span> Royal Canadian Air Force Base and Airport for Comox Valley

Canadian Forces Base Comox, commonly referred to as CFB Comox or 19 Wing, is a Canadian Forces Base located 2.5 nautical miles north northeast of Comox, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora anti-submarine/maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 19 Wing, commonly referred to as 19 Wing Comox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Bagotville</span> Royal Canadian Air Force base in central Quebec

Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, and also known as Bagotville Airport or Saguenay-Bagotville Airport, is a Canadian Forces base located 4.5 nautical miles west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay. Located in the centre of Quebec, less than 200 km (120 mi) north of Quebec City, CFB Bagotville is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor, the other being CFB Cold Lake. Its primary RCAF lodger units are 2 Wing and 3 Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Cold Lake</span> Royal Canadian Air Force base in Alberta, Canada

Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, abbreviated as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base in the City of Cold Lake, Alberta.

NATO Flight Training in Canada (NFTC) is a military flight training program for NATO and allied air forces provided by the Canadian Forces.

The Air Operations Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces (CF). All members of the branch wear the air force uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron</span> Military unit

419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War and is currently based at CFB Cold Lake. It is responsible for advanced tactical fighter training for pilots of the RCAF and as part of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program using nine CT-155 Hawk trainers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFB Winnipeg</span> Airport in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg is a Royal Canadian Air Force base located within the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Co-located at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CFB Winnipeg is home to many flight operations support divisions, as well as several training schools. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 17 Wing, commonly referred to as 17 Wing Winnipeg.

RCAF Station Gimli was an air station of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) located near Gimli, Manitoba, Canada.

Canadian Forces Fire and Emergency Services provide fire and emergency services to Canadian Forces land bases in Canada where local services are not available or sufficient.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School</span> Military flying school

2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School is one of the Royal Canadian Air Force's training centres for pilots and also one of the facilities of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KF Defence Programs</span>

KF Defence Programs, a division of KF Aerospace, operates the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Training Centre located at Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport in Southport, Manitoba, Canada. KF Aerospace leads a joint partnership that includes Canadian Helicopters, Bluedrop Performance Learning, and Canadian Base Operators. The main building is named The Hilly Brown Building after Wing Commander Mark Henry Brown who was the first Canadian flying ace of the Second World War.

This is the structure of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as of November 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Synoptic/Metstat Station Information Archived 1 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Greenhous, Brereton; Norman Hillmer (Fall 1981). "The Impact of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan on Western Canada: Some Saskatchewan Case Studies". Journal of Canadian Studies. 16 (3): 133–144. doi:10.3138/jcs.16.3-4.133. S2CID   151441160Project Muse.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  4. ↑ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 51.
  5. ↑ Stained glass at RCAF Base Chapel
  6. ↑ AEROWARE / RCAF.com (2010). "Bell CH-118 IROQUOIS" . Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Aviation Services". serco. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Facilities & Operations". SkyAlyne. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "ATCO Frontec Profile: NATO Flying Training in Canada - 15 Wing Moose Jaw". frontec.atco.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 GSSI. "Contracted Flying Training & Support (CFTS)". KF Aero. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada (7 March 2022). "NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) – Extension (W8485-7-VA01/001/ZD)". buyandsell.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada (12 March 2018). "Future Aircrew Training Program - Air - Defence and marine procurement - Buying and Selling - PSPC Services - PSPC". www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "SkyAlyne | Truly Canadian Training". SkyAlyne. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The SkyAlyne Team". SkyAlyne. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training". Babcock & Leonardo. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Babcock Canada and Leonardo Canada join forces to support the country's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program". Babcock & Leonardo. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 "Three new strategic partners join the FAcT team led by Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training". Babcock & Leonardo. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Canada's Largest Indigenous-Owned Hospitality and Site Management Company Joins the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training Team". Babcock & Leonardo. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Canada's Leading Aviation and Emergency Management Specialists join the Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training team". Babcock & Leonardo. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Executive Flight Centre, a leading Canadian provider of aerodrome site support services, joins Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training for the FAcT program". Babcock & Leonardo. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Leading Canadian infrastructure management organization joins the FAcT bid team led by Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training". Babcock & Leonardo. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "A leading Canadian facilities management organization joins the FAcT bid team led by Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training". Babcock & Leonardo. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.