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As Brigadier-General Sean Friday (second from right), deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force looks on, Warrant Officer Marc Charron (right), a search and rescue technician, talks with Defence Minister Jason Kenney about 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron’s capabilities. Aviator Ryan Moulton Photo
Only four days after taking over one of the most challenging portfolios in the Canadian government, Defence Minister Jason Kenney paid a whirlwind visit to 8 Wing Trenton, Ont. It was his first visit to a Royal Canadian Air Force wing since becoming Defence Minister.
During his visit on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, he was introduced to a broad cross-section of the work carried out at the wing, which has the reputation of being Canada’s busiest.
“Toured 8 Wing & CFB #Trenton, home to the mighty C-17s, SAR tech equipment, Hercs & of course @RCAF_ARC air crews,” he tweeted following his visit. He also took to Twitter to thank General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, who accompanied Minister Kenney, for being his pilot for the visit.
His stops included tours of several of the aircraft employed at 8 Wing: 429 Transport Squadron’s CC-177 Globemaster III, 436 Transport Squadron’s CC-130J Hercules, 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron’s CH-146 Griffon helicopter and 437 Transport Squadron’s CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refueller. He also discussed the wing’s MAJAID (major air disaster) capability and capabilities of the Disaster Assistance Response Team at the High Readiness Depot, which is a lodger unit at the wing belonging to the Canadian Army.
A stop at 426 Transport Training Squadron and a tour of the Air Mobility Training Centre included trying out the CC-130J weapon systems training simulator and last, but not least, Minister Kenney paid a visit to 2 Air Movements Squadron and toured the cargo facility.
Earlier in the day, Minister Kenney also visited Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ont.
