Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 31 seconds.
The Royal Canadian Air Force proudly stood on guard for all Canadians in 2013, serving in operations at home and abroad, maintaining readiness and enhancing expeditionary capabilities.
Operational Highlights
The RCAF supported a multitude of operations in 2013 – most recently with the provision of humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected communities in the Philippines. During this mission, CC-130J Hercules, CC-144 Challenger, CC-150 Polaris, CC-177 Globemaster III, and CH-146 Griffon crews conducted more than 230 sorties moving more than 450,000 kilograms (more than a million pounds) of cargo and over 1,200 passengers; Globemaster travel equated to one trip around the world every few days.
The Royal Canadian Air Force also supported NATO training in Afghanistan and NATO air policing in Iceland, provided airlift support in Mali, and carried out counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism operations. Meanwhile maritime security patrols thwarted illegal fishing, and we continued to evolve our presence in the North.
Other achievements:
- More than 2.7 metric tonnes (six million pounds) of cargo and over 5,800 passengers airlifted to and from Afghanistan
- More than 750,000 kilograms (1.7 million pounds) of cargo moved in support of operations in Mali
- Roughly 1,000 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel deployed in expeditionary capacities
- More than 400 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel deployed aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships as part of CH-124 Sea King community deployment
- More than 50 sorties flown with five different aircraft fleets, transporting over 80 passengers and hoisting nearly 30 more to safety during the Operation Lentus, which involved flood relief efforts in southern Alberta
NORAD
The CF-18 Hornet community committed more than 1,700 flight hours in support of NORAD training and operations, which amounts to 13 per cent of the CF-18 fleet’s yearly flying rate.
The Royal Canadian Air Force also participated in Exercise Vigilant Eagle with the United States Air Force and the Russian Federation Air Force.
During the Readiness Alert Force Evaluation, the Canadian NORAD Region received the highest readiness rating.
Search and rescue
As part of Canada’s search and rescue program, the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Coast Guard-led Joint Rescue Coordination Centres responded to nearly 8,800 search and rescue calls with personnel being tasked on approximately 1,000 missions, rescuing approximately 200 people. This courageous work earned our crews multiple domestic and international awards.
Readiness
Excellence in operations demands a commitment to readiness. This year, more than 5,500 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel honed their search and rescue capabilities in Alaska, expeditionary capabilities and close air support in France, anti-submarine warfare and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) competencies in Italy and the UK – to name a few.
At home crews tested the CC-130 Hercules with the first ice runway landing in 30 years and participated in JOINTEX, the most complex collective training event the Canadian Armed Forces has ever conducted.
Milestones
Royal Canadian Air Force technicians proved why they are the envy of the world through two major milestones: the 50th anniversary of the CH-124 Sea King and 50thanniversary of the CT-114 Tutor fleet.
With the delivery of the CH-147F Chinook, new air power and sophistication will soon come to bear on operations at home and abroad.
Into the future
2014 marks another important milestone in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s tradition of excellence: our 90th anniversary. Sic Itur Ad Astra – such is the pathway to the stars!
