Canadian Aviator

02/06/2024

This year is the Centennial anniversary, the music video is one of the well done elements of the celebration.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/d3SGCvj4FbeKi1ya/?

29/05/2024

A significant contract award for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) future pilot training program was announced today.

The SkyAlyne consortium including two big names in the Canadian aerospace industry, CAE and KF Arospace, was awarded the $11.2B contract for Canada's Future Aircrew Training program (FaCT).

Currently RCAF pilots are trained through two programs contracted to the civilian industry managed by headquarter in Winnipeg, MB. The NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Program in Moose Jaw, SK, and Cold Lake, AB is provided and managed by CAE using CT-156 Raytheon Harvard-II and CT-155 BAe Hawks (recently retired) aircraft, while KF Aerospace provides and manages the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Program in Southport, MB using Grob 120, Beechcraft Kingair C90, Bell Jet Ranger and Bell 412 for the Ab Initio training towards eventual fast jet, rotary or transport assignment.

Both the CFTS and NFTC programs will now be combined and replaced by FAcT as the next-generation RCAF pilot training solution.

Huge congratulations to the SkyAlyne team for this win!!

20/05/2024

In this centennial year of the RCAF, we are proud to feature two renowned Air Force fighters: the Spitfire and the CF-18 Hornet. Pilots Dave Hadfield and Major Justin King take us into their cockpits as the describe the experience of flying in formation. Incredible photo by

19/04/2024

On May 17th, 2020, Canadian Forces Snowbirds Public Affairs Officer Captain Jenn Casey sadly lost her life when the CT-114 Tutor jet she was a passenger in crashed near the Kamloops Airpot in B.C. after the engine faltered from bird ingestion shortly after take-off.
Captain Casey was part of OPS Inspiration by the Snowbirds Team flying across Canada to thank the front line healthcare workers and to inspire all Canadians during the COIVID pandemic lockdown.
Kamloops local resident and artist Sarah Holiday was doing crafting with her daughters when the Tutor jet crashed, she decided to initiate a project to commemorate Captain Casey by working with another local fabricator Raw Elements Deaign to create a monument in the shape of the CT-114 jet, the metal sculpture consists of shapes of maple leaf and branch to symbolize the Canadian spirit exhibited during the COVID lockdown.
The beautiful art monument, called May She Soar, is currently being installed at the Fulton Fields Park besides the Kamloops Airport as a tribute to Captain Casey.

10/04/2024

Canadian Aviator is proud to support Hope Air and its mission to provide travel arrangements for those in need to distant locations for necessary health care. Join any of (or all) 3 regional expeditions in Canada this June as we raise funds for this worthy cause.

30/03/2024

Canada's aerobatic champion and Aviator columnist Luke Penner writes about not only the WAAC championship in Las Vegas last year, but also his journey there in the current issue of Canadian Aviator magazine. .club.bc

17/03/2024

On March 8th, 2024, RCAF 419 "Moose" Sqn in CFB Cold Alberta ceased operation of the CT-155 BAe Hawk and temporarily stood down as the Fighter Lead-In training squadron in Canada.

The Hawk aircraft fleet has been used at NFTC in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan as Phase 3 fast jet flight training and as Fighter Lead-In training at 419 Sqn for almost 20 years, brining most of the current CF-18 Hornet pilots through the training curriculum.

However this is only a short hiatus for the 419 Sqn, as it is expected to be stood up again in a few years when the NFTC program replacement FAcT (Future Aircrew Training) program gets underway.

In the meantime, future Canadian fighter pilots will undergo this phase of their training in Sheppard's Air Force Base in Texas as part of ENJJPT (Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training) program, and IFTS (International Flight Training School) in Italy.

12/03/2024

Being a high-time airline pilot and a long-time Skylane owner does not mean that ferry-flying a friend's 210 to Canada will be simple. Read our columnist Richard Pittet's account of the month-long journey from Texas in the current issue.

24/02/2024

115 years ago on February 23rd, the Canadian designed and built Silver Dart piloted by one of the designer Doug McCurdy, made the first powered flight in Canada from an icy strip at Baddeck, Nova Scotia in the east coast of Canada.
Unfortunately the original Silver Dart was later damaged beyond repair during a landing mishap.

03/02/2024

In the current issue of Canadian Aviator we let Scott Knowlton explain how he and three friends built 'Five', a Fly Baby home-built biplane that allows them to own and fly an airplane on an extremely tight budget, attainable by almost any pilot with limited financial resources available for their aviation hobby.

02/02/2024

Exciting news announcement by the Kelowna B.C. based KF Aerospace that it has secured the rights to become the exclusive North American distributor of the Grob 120 aircraft.
This arrangement with the German aircraft manufacture allows KF Aerospace to promote, sell and lease the Grob 120 aircraft, providing maintenance and flight training utilizing the Grob 120, which is also currently used in the Canadian military training CFTS (Contracted Flight Training Support) program in the ab-initio phase for the new student pilots, the side-by-side seating in the cockpit is ideal for the interaction between the student and instructor.
Congratulations to a great Canadian aerospace company!
(photo courtesy of KF Aerospace)

21/01/2024

In a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, a Second World War-era Avro Lancaster Mk. X bomber will tour Canada this summer, appearing in several air shows. While most of the over 7,000 Lancasters produced were of British origin, 430 were built in Canada at the Victory Aircraft factory in Malton (now part of Toronto).
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum of Hamilton, Ontario owns one of only two flying examples of this historical aircraft in the world, which came off the assembly line in Malton in 1945. In 2014, it made a memorable flight across the Atlantic to join the world’s only other flying Lancaster for a tour of the United Kingdom.

Lancaster bombers played a key role in the famous Royal Air Force ‘Dambuster Raid’ in Germany during the war. Many Canadians were among those involved in the raid.

Lancasters served in the post-war years with the RCAF in numerous roles, including Arctic surveying, VIP transport and Search and Rescue roles. The last one was finally retired in 1964

(With file from CWHM)

20/01/2024

In this month's issue we profile Sarah Cote's inspiring journey from waitressing in Calgary, wondering what to do with her life, to ferrying a Twin Otter to Antarctica just three years later.
Subscribe digitally now or buy a copy on the newsstands to read this and other great and informative aviation stories. #

31/12/2023

Happy New Year!

The January issue is out and on the newsstands (and in the mailboxes of our loyal subscribers).

Want proof that aviation doesn't have to be an expensive hobby? Get a hold of this issue to find out how Scott Knowlton made it happen.

01/12/2023

Canadian Aviator supports the great work that the Canadian Business Aviation Association, led by Anthony Norejko (r), does to promote this vital Canadian industry.

27/11/2023

Our current issue is now on the newsstands. Canadian Aviator was at the last National Championship Air Races to be held in Reno, Nevada. Read about it the current issue. Also available by print or digital subscription (the latter gets you instant access to this and past issues!)

27/11/2023

On this Hallowe'en 2023, congratulate Calgary's Blaire Hamilton on her win at the Reno Air Races this year. Blaire won Silver in the Formula One class flying her Cassutt Racer aptly named 'Atomic Pumpkin'! Read more in the current issue of Canadian Aviator.

27/11/2023

Canadian aerobatics champion Luke Penner writes about the 2023 Canadian National Aerobatic Championship (which he co-founded) in his column in the current issue of Canadian Aviator magazine, available on newsstands across Canada (and by digital subscription).

25/11/2023

Pilot Joshua Kutryk has been assigned to crew Starliner-1, which will transport him and three other astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month mission, which is expected to launch in 2025.

The Starliner-1 will be the first operational mission for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spaceship to the ISS. After Kutryk’s mission is complete, a Starliner spaceship will return him to Earth.

Kutryk, born in and raised near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta in 1982, learned to fly while an air cadet. He later served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a CF-18 pilot based in Quebec, flying NATO missions in Libya and Afghanistan. He later served as an instructor and as a test pilot for CF-18s in Cold Lake, Alberta. Kutryk joined the Canadian Space Agency astronaut corps in 2017.

Also announced was the assignment of Dr. Jenni Gibbons as the backup for Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also of the CSA. She will train alongside Hansen and will take his place on the moon mission should he not be able to participate. Gibbons will also train for a support role as ‘capcom’ for the Artemis moon missions.

Gibbons was also born in Alberta – in Calgary in 1988. She served as an assistant professor in the Energy, Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery Division of the U.K.’s University of Cambridge, where she had obtained her doctorate in engineering. Gibbons joined the CSA as an astronaut in 2020. She has since served as a mission control ‘capcom’ for the ISS.

“These assignments are clear proof of the impressive reputation our astronaut corps has,” said Innovation, Science and Industry Minster François-Philippe Champagne. “From the International Space Station to the Moon, Jenni Gibbons and Joshua Kutryk are about to write an exciting new chapter of Canada’s history in space.”

12/11/2023

The annual Remembrance Day ceremony held at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum was attended by many veterans from WW-II, Korean, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Middle East, and Peacekeeping operations around the world.
Lt Gen (ret) Michael Hood delivered a riveting presentation of Canada's military participation over the many decades since WW-I, the audience clearly enjoyed the speech and slideshow in today's ceremony.

11/11/2023

RCAF Remembrance Flypasts.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=725298329627544&id=100064421514671&mibextid=en6awd

Aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force will conduct flypasts for numerous Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada throughout the day on Saturday, November 11.

The National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa, along with other ceremonies in the National Capital Region, will feature flypasts by CF-18 Hornet fighter jets.

Flypasts by Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft will also take place in the following communities across Canada:

- Alberta – Edmonton (CH-146 Griffon).

- British Columbia – Ashcroft (CT-155 Hawk); Campbell River (CC-130H Hercules); Comox (CH-149 Cormorant); Courtenay (CH-149 Cormorant); Cumberland (CH-149 Cormorant); Kamloops (CT-155 Hawk); Lantzville (CH-148 Cyclone); Nakusp (CH-146 Griffon), Nanaimo (CP-140 Aurora); New Westminster (CP-140 Aurora); Qualicum Beach (CH-148 Cyclone), Sidney (CH-148 Cyclone); Union Bay (CH-149 Cormorant), Vancouver (CP-140 Aurora); and Westwold (CT-155 Hawk).

- Ontario – Arnprior (CH-147F Chinook); Carleton Place (CH-147F Chinook); Hastings (CH-146 Griffon); Ivanhoe (CH-146 Griffon); King City (CC-130J Hercules), Madoc (CH-146 Griffon); Toronto (CC-130H Hercules); and Whitby (CC-130J Hercules).

- New Brunswick – McAdam (CH-146 Griffon); Shediac (CP-140 Aurora); and St Andrews (CH-146 Griffon).

- Northwest Territories – Yellowknife (CC-138 Twin Otter)

- Nova Scotia – Bridgewater (CH-149 Cormorant or CC-130H Hercules); Dartmouth (CH-148 Cyclone); Kingston (CP-140 Aurora); Lunenburg (CH-149 Cormorant or CC-130H Hercules); and New Germany (CH-149 Cormorant or CC-130H Hercules).

- Québec – Bagotville (CF-18 Hornet); Courcelette (CH-146 Griffon); Montreal (CH-146 Griffon), and Québec City (CH-146 Griffon).

The aircraft will fly over the events at an altitude no lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle on their routes. Flypasts by Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft are carefully planned and closely controlled for public safety, and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions.

For details on the Royal Canadian Air Force and our capabilities, please visit the RCAF website at https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force.html.

22/10/2023

Northern Lights Aero Foundation held its 2023 annual Elsie MacGill Gala on October 21st in Brampton Convention Center north west of Toronto, the event celebrated the amazing achievement of some incredible ladies in aviation.

Representatives from `many sponsors were in attendance for this event attended by 600 guests, including past recipients to help present the trophy to the 2023 award winners.

More background details of the 2023 award recipients can be found at the foundation's website https://northernlightsaerofoundation.com/northern-lights-aero-foundation-announces-2023-recipients/

Business Award - Canty Press
Cathy Press, CEO of Chinook Helicopters, holds both Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing ATPLs, Class 1 Instructor and Pilot Examiner ratings. In 1997, she became the first female helicopter flight instructor in Canada. She has received numerous awards including: Elevate Aviation’s ‘Inspire’ award; Bank of Montreal’s Innovation and Global Growth Award, and Enterprise Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award. In 2019, she was recognized as one of Canada’s “Most Powerful Women” by the Women’s Executive Network. Her accomplishments have made her a role model and catalyst for change in the industry.

Government Award - Catherine Gabot
Major Catherine Cabot is an aerospace engineer in the Canadian Armed Forces. She has held a variety of positions supporting the CP 140 Aurora fleet in first line maintenance and software projects. Most recently, she was the Deputy Commanding Officer of 3 Air Maintenance Squadron, responsible for second line maintenance of the CF188s. Catherine will take on a new challenge this summer as the Senior Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration with a focus on project management at l’Université du Québec en Outaouais. Catherine is also the proud mother of two.

Flight Operations Award - Kristin Long
Kristin Long is a Captain and Standards Pilot on the B737 at WestJet Airlines. She began her aviation career as a Flight Attendant while attending university. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and an Aviation Diploma from the University of the Fraser Valley and Coastal Pacific Aviation. She volunteered with the Out of the Blue fundraiser gala for the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada for many years, and served on the Capital Campaign and Displays Advisory Committee. Kristin is also the proud mother of two boys.

Engineering Award - Heather Beaton
Heather Beaton is a Fellow in Bombardier’s Aircraft Design & Development engineering organization, providing leadership and decision-making to critical strategic, safety and certification decisions across Bombardier sites and platforms. She has been at Bombardier since 1988 and has held various engineering positions in their product development teams over the years, including product planning and new aircraft studies for new and derivative models with Bombardier’s Advanced Design and Strategic Technology teams. Heather founded the Bombardier’s Women in Engineering affinity group, providing networking, mentoring and project opportunities.

Educational Award - Dr. Joana Rocha
Dr. Joana Rocha is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Ontario. She joined the department in 2012 as an Assistant Professor, became an Associate Professor in July 2017 and will become a full Professor in July of 2023. Prior to joining Carleton, Dr. Rocha was a visiting researcher at NASA Langley Research Centre and the National Institute of Aerospace in Virginia. She has participated in talks and outreach events, encouraging women to pursue engineering and sciences.

Trailblazer Award – Glenna Sharratt
Glenna Sharratt is a flight operations consultant providing regulatory support and guidance to Canadian air operators for the past 20 years. She has more than 45 years in the aviation industry with experience as a commercial pilot, advanced flight training instructor, approved check pilot, 20 years as a Transport Canada Flight Operations Inspector and 20 years as a consultant. She has assisted hundreds of air operators with AOC start-ups, quality assurance audits, Company Operations Manuals, etc. Glenna has been a member of the Manitoba Aviation Council, the Canadian Business Aviation Association, the BC Aviation Council and the Northern Air Transport Association.

Rising Star Award – Alisha Sohpaul
Alisha Sohpaul is a Transport Canada Airworthiness Inspector and is proudly part of the 2.8% of female AMEs in Canada. Recognizing the need for mentorship, she co-founded the “Hangar Queens”, the first female AME network in Canada. She is a licensed M1 and M2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and has been working in the industry for the past nine years. . Alisha is passionate about giving back to the industry and enjoys promoting aviation career options for young women.

Rising Star Award- Yasna Taieb
Yasna Taieb is an Inflight Operations Manager with Jazz Aviation LP, a Multi-IFR student pilot, a Junior Board Director with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, a Lieutenant in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves and a volunteer Research Assistant with the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics - WISA. Yasna intends to pursue a flying career while continuing her studies in aviation safety and human factors.

28/09/2023

Two years ago the Canadian aviation community unexpectedly lost a talented aviation journalist and photographer Eric Dumigan, his family held a Celebration of Life memorial service for him last Saturday that was graciously hosted by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association in its hangar at Tillsonburg Airport to remember a talented, passionate, humble, respected, and just a down to earth good guy, who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

26/09/2023

The 2023 Airshow London SkyDrive event was held from September 8th-10th in southern Ontario London YXU airport .
While the weather was cloudy all three days, the ceiling was acceptable and no rain, allowing the performers to show off their aircraft and flying skills, the ground static display allowed the airshow enthusiasts to get up close to the large variety of aircraft to speak to the aircrews.
The Friday evening Twilight "Hour of Power" show included drone formation and firework displays, both are a first for this airshow, the Snowbirds and F-22 Raptor stole the show with demonstration of both grace and power.
The damp air from the weather allowed the fighter jets to pull vapour condensations in many of the high-speed, high-G maneuvers through out the 3-day show.
While there is a noticeable dominance of US aircraft this year including a rare appearance of the B-2 Spirit of Washington stealth bomber, it is expected the 2024 Airshow London will be even better with more RCAF participation for the 100th Anniversary of RCAF.

01/09/2023

2023 Canadian International Air Show will be the retirement airshow performance for 81 years young aerobatic pilot Gord Price in the YAK-50, Gord was a former RCAF CF-104 Starfighter pilot before retiring as a Captain from Air Canada.
Another aerobatic pilot Trevor Rafferty will be debuting his aerobatic routine in a Pitts Model 12 at the same airshow, Trevor is the chief aerobatic instructor with Upright Aviation Academy, a school in the Burlington, Ontario area providing upset recovery training for pilots and thill flights.
Handing off the torch from Gord to Trevor at the CIAS this weekend.
(Gord and Trevor discussing the show site details at the end of the arrival day)

24/08/2023

Logan Lawrence is a young man with passion for aviation who is currently a member of the London Ontario Air Cadets 862 Lambeth Lightning Sqn.
In May this year, Logan completed a school project on the Moose Jaw Aerobatic Teams, including the Goldielocks flying the Harvards to the modern day Canadian Forces Snowbirds flying the CT-114 Tutor jets, several current and former Snowbirds members provided valuable information during interviews Logan conducted with them for his project.
His excellent work was selected by the judging committee of the Thames Valley Regional school board to compete at the provincial level, subsequently winning the “Historical Thinking Award” category.
Logan was promoted to Cadet Sergeant earlier this year, and continued his aviation journey as a regular volunteer along with his mother Diane Lawerance at the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association in Tillsonburg, Ontario, he also attended the cadet Advanced Aviation course in Greenwood, N.S. this summer.
Best wishes to this energetic and enthusiastic young man to continue excel in the outstanding Canadian Aviator tradition.
(Photos courtesy of Diane Lawrence)

07/08/2023

Upright Aviation Academy based at Burlington Executive Airport (CZBA) west of Toronto held an open house and official grand opening of its new hangar on Aug 5th.
Milton Mayor Gord Krantz joined Upright Aviation Founder Geoff Armstrong and his team for the event, along with guests and visitors checking out the Extra 300 and Super Decathlon aircraft used by the Transport Canada certified flight training school to instruct upset prevention and recovery, aerobatic flights, and thrill rides. See www.uprightaviation.com for more details.
Armstrong family's rescue dog Mitch seems to be the perfect school mascot.

28/07/2023

Gimili Glider

40 years ago on July 23rd, 1983, Air Canada flight AC143 ran out of fuel at 41,000 feet due to metric/imperial fuel quantity confusion when the aircraft was fuelled in Montreal on route to Edmonton.

The Boeing 767 glided to a safe landing at Gimli Motorsport Park, which was a former RCAF base that had been converted to a motorsport venue, with only minor injuries and minimal damage to the aircraft when the nose gear collapsed during this emergency landing.

The aircraft was repaired and remained in active service with Air. Amanda until it was retired in 2008.

Given the procedure to fly the 767 with both engines out had not been developed by Boeing at the time, it was an incredible feat and airmanship by the flight crew to safely “dead stick” the massive airliner jet into a former military air strip, thereby avoiding a major disaster of casualties and aircraft loss.

07/07/2023

Latest issue now on the newsstands! Read about Beech Staggerwings, flying 4-engine Vulcan bombers on 1 engine, designing instrument approaches and read the latest Carbon Cub/Rotax news. And much more! Paper and/or digital subscriptions available.

21/06/2023

Our thoughts are with members of the RCAF 450 Tac Hel Sqn based in CFB Petawawa for the tragic accident early yesterday, one of its CH-147 Chinook helicopters crashed into Ottawa River during a night time training exercise, two crews were rescued, sadly two other crews (both pilots since identified by the military) did not survive the mishap.