| 8 Air Maintenance Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | April 1, 1993 - Present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Type | Maintenance Squadron |
| Size | Squadron |
| Motto | Conjunctis Viribus (With Combined Powers) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | C-130 Hercules, C-150 Polaris |
8 Air Maintenance Squadron is a Royal Canadian Air Force unit. Based at CFB Trenton, it is responsible for maintaining and servicing the Canadian Forces CC-130 and CC-150 aircraft fleets.
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No. 8 Air Maintenance Squadron (8 AMS) traces its roots back to the beginning of flying operations at CFB Trenton. However, it was not until April 1, 1993, that 8 AMS was formed as an element of 8 Wing.[1] Musician and television host Wayne Rostad served as an Honorary Colonel for the Squadron.[2] On the tenth anniversary of the Motorcycle Ride for Dad Rostad took part as a motorcyclist and commented with, "It really feels like home here [CFB Trenton] today. I am so proud of the time I spent here at 8 Wing as honorary colonel of 8 AMS. I am pleased and honoured to be here with you all. We are having a great ride to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and we are doing lots of good to help raise awareness for prostate cancer and for our military families across the country."[2]
The current commanding officer of 8AMS is Lieutenant Colonel J.T. Fernandes, who took over from LtCol A.M. Agnew on 23 July 2010.[3] In 2005, Fernandes was posted to 8AMS at CFB Trenton. Fernandes is the current chairman of the Trenval Community Future Development Corporation and Industry Canada non-profit bank that promotes local economic development. Last June, Fernandes completed the Joint Command and Staff program through the Canadian Forces College and its new distance learning program.[4]
8 Air Maintenance Squadron is responsible for providing mission capable Aircraft through safe, efficient maintenance and support to Canadian Forces operations worldwide. 8 Air Maintenance Squadron provides mission-capable heavy transport aircraft and support to Canadian Forces operations worldwide. 8AMS manages and maintains all Hercules aircraft flown by the 424, 426, and 436 squadrons.[4] The Squadron staff are responsible for the maintenance of the unit's fleet of airlift and search and rescue (SAR) assets. The Squadron is continually heavily tasked to support 8 Wing's worldwide airlift and SAR missions. The Squadron also supports Canadian Airlines International in maintaining the CC-150 Polaris and services a variety of Canadian and foreign transient Aircraft.[1]
Housed in 56,000 sq metres of hangar space and employing a multi-million dollar inventory of modern equipment, tools and test instruments, the Squadron provides 24 hour a day, seven days a week coverage and supports world-wide flying operations with mobile repair parties and deployed maintenance teams. Organized as a central maintenance facility, the unit performs first and second line maintenance on CC-130 Hercules Aircraft. As well, the squadron performs second line maintenance on CC-130 Aircraft and associated components from its sister units of 435 (T) Squadron, Winnipeg, and 413 (T&R) Squadron, Greenwood.[1]
Aviation Systems Technician Corporal Ed Thorold distinguished himself during one of his days off, not on the battlefield. He has truly distinguished himself in one very selfless act, so much so that the Chief of the Defence Staff acknowledged his heroism.[5] Then Chief of the Air Staff, Lieutenant-General Angus Watt, presented Cpl Thorold with a CDS Commendation, on behalf of General Rick Hillier, during his visit to the wing in April 2008. The actions for which he was recognized took place in 2007 while Cpl Thorold was stationed at CFB Gagetown. One of his children's friends was with the family at a park. Cpl Thorold was notified by one of his children that the friend was having a seizure. When he arrived at the play structure he noticed the child was not breathing and had vomit in his mouth. He then performed CPR on the child until an ambulance arrived. The child was still unconscious, but was breathing and was later discharged and suffered no permanent damage.[5]
8 Air Maintenance Squadron has served overseas in Afghanistan. The squadron mainly provided support and supply to Camp Mirage. During one of the last rotations through Camp Mirage the average serviceability of aircraft maintained by the squadron was 86%.[6] When deployed to Camp Mirage the maintenance technicians spend a third of their time at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan to help them get the operational picture. Since October 2001, following the attacks of 9/11, 8 Air Maintenance Squadron had been on rotations to Camp Mirage.[6]
Since 2006 Exercise Green Flag has been an annual event that is all about tactical airlift training. The exercise is held at the U.S. Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. 8 Wing Trenton is deployed with many personnel, including medics, evaluators, supply technicians, traffic technicians, communications specialists, and maintenance personnel. 8 Air Maintenance Squadron has been deployed to join the exercise as a team since the name was changed from Exercise Air Warrior. Exercise Green Flag is the air mobility portion of the training conducted at the Joint Readiness Training Centre (JRTC) in Fort Polk, Louisiana.[7]
The CC-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft and it has been in service since 1960. It is the predecessor to the upgraded CC-130J Super Hercules. The Super Hercules is a medium transport aircraft that has been in service with the Canadian Forces since 17 August 2011. The nineteen CC-130E Hercules are being replaced by seventeen CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft and this replacement will be finalized no later than April 2012.[8]
The CC-150 Polaris is a second-hand Airbus A310 transport that was purchased in 1992 for use as a strategic transports and air-to-air tankers to replace the Boeing CC-137. Two have been converted to tankers and are designated the CC-150T. These aircraft are the primary long distance transport aircraft used by the Royal Canadian Air Force. There are five of these aircraft currently in service.[9]
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