The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)

[YZT580]

Wadena was tongue in cheek

CAF is competing for talent, part of that is offering postings where families can work and thrive. Increasingly, smaller communities are less attractive because spousal employment is limited - and even if there are opportunities, every posting means starting from the bottom of seniority lists (Wayne Eyre mentions that in his book).

which suggests activating, or re-constituting would probably be more appropriate, a closed facility. But how far outside a major centre is considered reasonable? As well, I believe the focus was on creating a reserve system which would require aircraft technicians on site but crew could and would commute. In the southern Ontario region YHM and the Toronto pair of airports are the only ones that are really busy London has a fair bit of executive and freight traffic but doesn't match HM. That leaves YKF and YFD that are close to YYZ and offer decent employee opportunities. YYB has been disparaged before on these pages so we will leave it out. What about Carp? It is close to Ottawa, with a single surfaced runway and a gravel strip that could easily be re-constituted and close to miles and miles of forest and lakes for training without traffic interference.

 

[AvroArrow92]

which suggests activating, or re-constituting would probably be more appropriate, a closed facility. But how far outside a major centre is considered reasonable? As well, I believe the focus was on creating a reserve system which would require aircraft technicians on site but crew could and would commute. In the southern Ontario region YHM and the Toronto pair of airports are the only ones that are really busy London has a fair bit of executive and freight traffic but doesn't match HM. That leaves YKF and YFD that are close to YYZ and offer decent employee opportunities. YYB has been disparaged before on these pages so we will leave it out. What about Carp? It is close to Ottawa, with a single surfaced runway and a gravel strip that could easily be re-constituted and close to miles and miles of forest and lakes for training without traffic interference.

Really there is very few airfields that would make sense for fast jet reactivation or new build. In my opinion you got North Bay, Winnipeg, Comox, and Greenwood that is it. Even then in terms of viablitly I would say North Bay, and that would still cost billions at least. New ramp space, secure hangers, ammo storage, fuel storage, more PMQ ext.. The military airspace still exist around North Bay, and it is remote enough that you won’t have a lot of complaints. While still being relatively close to major urban areas. You could maybe more readily create some civilian or military fields for fast jet activity but that is not the same thing. Canada would be better off adding another TFS to both Cold Lake and Bagotville before new fast jet MOB. If we want more presence for the RCAF, add a C130J sq in the A330MRTT MOB in YEG. Add a reserve helo sq somewhere in the BC lower mainland or Winnipeg or ideally both. Much better use of limited resources.

 

[YZT580]

Really there is very few airfields that would make sense for fast jet reactivation or new build. In my opinion you got North Bay, Winnipeg, Comox, and Greenwood that is it. Even then in terms of viablitly I would say North Bay, and that would still cost billions at least. New ramp space, secure hangers, ammo storage, fuel storage, more PMQ ext.. The military airspace still exist around North Bay, and it is remote enough that you won’t have a lot of complaints. While still being relatively close to major urban areas. You could maybe more readily create some civilian or military fields for fast jet activity but that is not the same thing. Canada would be better off adding another TFS to both Cold Lake and Bagotville before new fast jet MOB. If we want more presence for the RCAF, add a C130J sq in the A330MRTT MOB in YEG. Add a reserve helo sq somewhere in the BC lower mainland or Winnipeg or ideally both. Much better use of limited resources.

and then of course there is always Gimli. Its only an hour from WG and the runway surfaces are not in bad shape. Lots of room around for training and the lake for recreation. There are definitely worse places.