CFB Trenton

Infobox Airport
name = Canadian Forces Base Trenton
nativename=Trenton Airport


image-width =
caption =CFB Trenton, as seen from across the Bay of Quinte
IATA = YTR
ICAO = CYTR
type = Military
owner = Government of Canada
operator = DND
city-served =
location = Trenton, Ontario
elevation-f = 283
elevation-m = 86
coordinates = coord|44|07|08|N|077|31|41|W|region:CA-ON_type:airport|display=inline
website = [http://www.cfcommunitygateway.com/en/trenton/index.asp cfcommunitygateway.com/trenton]
r1-number = 06/24
r1-length-f = 10,000
r1-length-m = 3,048
r1-surface = Asphalt
footnotes = Source: Canada Flight SupplementCFS]

Canadian Forces Base Trenton Airport codes|YTR|CYTR (also CFB Trenton), is a Canadian Forces Base located convert|2.3|NM|abbr=on|lk=in northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad. Its primary lodger unit is 8 Wing.

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. The use of the airport for civilian aircraft is permitted for emergencies or MEDEVACs only.

History

In 1929, 960 acres (3.9 km²) of farmland near Trenton were purchased by the federal government to establish a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station to be called RCAF Station Trenton. The base was officially opened in August 1931. Trenton was intended as a smaller supporting base to RCAF Station Borden, which was the home of Canadian military aviation and a major training base at the time. The location was chosen for being the mid-point between Ottawa and Toronto. It also provided the possibility of using the facility for sea planes operating on Lake Ontario.

RCAF Station Trenton became host to No. 1 Fighter and No. 3 Army Cooperation Flights, flying Siskin and Tiger Moth aircraft. Trenton became a major training centre during the Second World War under Canada's participation in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Following the war, Trenton became home to transport and fighter aircraft, with transport aircraft from the base taking part in the Korean Airlift, as well as numerous other missions throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Canada upgraded its transport and search and rescue fleet in the 1960s when the RCAF purchased the CC-137 Husky, CC-130 Hercules, CH-113 Labrador and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft. Trenton became the home of training facilities for these aircraft.

RCAF Station Trenton was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton after the February 1, 1968 merger of the RCAF with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army to form the Canadian Forces.

Present operations

AIRCOM operates the majority of its fixed wing tactical and all of its strategic airlift aircraft from CFB Trenton. CFB Trenton is also home to a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC Trenton) which is jointly staffed by AIRCOM and Canadian Coast Guard personnel with responsibility for coordinating aircraft and marine rescue incidents in central and Arctic Canada. AIRCOM also operates the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC Trenton) from the base, which is tasked with detecting satellite transmissions from emergency locating beacons on aircraft or marine vessels in distress through Canada's three search and rescue regions.

Land Force Command also operates the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre (formerly the Canadian Parachute Centre).

8 Wing has several aircraft types, including CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris and CC-177 Globemaster transport aircraft, the CH-149 Cormorant tactical transport / search and rescue helicopter, and the CC-144 Challenger VIP transport. The Challenger fleet, used to fly the Governor General, members of the Royal Family (when visiting Canada), the Prime Minister and members of the federal cabinet, is based in Ottawa but supported from CFB Trenton.

Current squadrons under 8 Wing include:

* 424 (Transport & Rescue) Squadron (424 Tiger Squadron) - Flying the CC-130 and CH-149
* 426 (Transport & Training) Squadron (426 Thunderbird Squadron)
* 429 (Transport) Squadron (429 Bison Squadron) - Flying the CC-177
* 436 (Transport) Squadron (436 Tusky Squadron) - Flying the CC-130
* 437 (Transport) Squadron (437 Husky Squadron) - Flying the CC-150
* 412 (Transport) Squadron - Flying the CC-144
* 2 Air Movements Squadron
* 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron
* 8 Air Maintenance Squadron (8 AMS)

Temporary storage facilities are being built at the base for the CC-177 and completion is scheduled for 2008. Permanent hangars will be targeted for 2010. In the meantime the four aircraft will be stored outdoors.

Other operations

* The base is also home to CSTC Trenton, a cadet summer training centre for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

* The base contains the RCAF Memorial Museum.

References

*UNCLAS CANAIRGEN 025/06 (Canadian Air Force General Order)

ee also

* Dave Devall - honorary Colonel of the 436 Squadron

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/8wing/ 8 Wing Trenton]
* [http://www.8wing.ca/ 8 Wing Community]
* [http://www.436sqn.ca/ 436 (Transport) Squadron]
* [http://www.airforcemuseum.ca/ RCAF Memorial Museum]