| Canadian Forces Base Trenton Trenton Airport |
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| IATA: YTR – ICAO: CYTR – WMO: 71621 |
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Owner | The Queen in Right of Canada | ||
| Operator | DND | ||
| Location | Trenton, Ontario | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 283 ft / 86 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
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CYTR
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 06/24 | 10,000 | 3,048 | Asphalt |
| Source: Canada Flight Supplement[1] Environment Canada[2] |
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Canadian Forces Base Trenton (IATA: YTR, ICAO: CYTR) (also CFB Trenton), is a Canadian Forces base located 2.3 NM (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 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.[1]
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In 1929, 960 acres (390 ha) 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. Lord Bessborough, the Governor General in 1931, laid the commemorative cornerstone of the airbase, which had the motto, “Per Ardua ad Rem,” or “Through Adversity to the Good” . This motto was the long-standing unspoken motto of the airmen of CFB Trenton.[3] 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. By June 1937 it had replaced Camp Borden as the primary flying training centre; the older station was given over increasingly to technical and trades training.[4] The location was chosen for being the mid-point between Ottawa and Toronto. It also provided the possibility of using the facility for seaplanes 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. Schools included the RCAF Central Flying School, No. 1 Air Navigation School (to 1942), No. 1 Flying Instructor School, and No. 1 Composite Training School.[5] Along with the trainees, the 6 Repair Depot was based at Trenton. 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.
In 1958, RCAF Station Trenton became the destination for several test flights of the CF-105 Arrow, flying from the Avro Canada manufacturing facility at Malton Airport.
Canada upgraded its transport and search and rescue fleets during the 1960s when the RCAF purchased the CC-137 Husky, CC-130 Hercules, CH-113 Labrador and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft. RCAF Station 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.
CFB Trenton has several recognized and classified Federal Heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings. [6]
The recapitalization of the northeast ramp was completed in summer 2008, and reconstruction of the southeast ramp was completed in the summer of 2009.[7]
Construction of a new air traffic control tower was completed in July 2010.[8]
The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre is housed in a new building named after Air Marshal Clare Annis. Leed Gold Standard certification is underway from the Canada Green Building Council.[9]
A new Material Distribution Centre opened on November 2, 2010. The $2.4-million project is an amalgamation and co-location of the Wing's Central Material Traffic Terminal of 2 Air Movement Squadron (2 AMS) with the material distribution centre of 8 Wing Supply.[10]
The construction of a new northwest ramp and associated taxiway infrastructure, consisting of approximately 82,500 m2 (888,000 sq ft) of concrete and 47,400 m2 (510,200 sq ft) of asphalt surface began in 2009. This recapitalization provides more area for maneuvering, parking and loading aircraft, while providing adequate space to accommodate aircraft.[11]
A 17,500 m2 (188,400 sq ft) electrical/mechanic engineering (EME) and transportation garage valued at $75 million is being built.[12]
The Air Mobility Training Centre project will see the construction of a 17,000 m2 (183,000 sq ft) facility that will house the equipment and personnel required to train operators and maintainers of the CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Building construction will be completed in 2011 and operations will begin in 2012.[13][12]
A contract for new training accommodations is expected to be awarded in 2010, with construction tentatively set for completion by summer 2012.[12]
Maintenance Hangar 1 is a two bay maintenance hangar designed for the large C-177 Globemasters. The 16,630 m2 (179,000 sq ft) building is expected to be completed by spring 2013.[12]
Maintenance Hangar 2 is a two bay maintenance hangar designed for CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. It will be a 11,613 m2 (125,000 sq ft), and will include 4,500 m2 (48,400 sq ft) of office space and shop support areas. Construction is to be be completed by February 2013.
The RCAF operates the majority of its fixed-wing tactical airlift and all of its strategic airlift aircraft from CFB Trenton.
CFB Trenton plays a key support role for the National Search and Rescue Program, being home to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton (JRCC Trenton) which is jointly staffed by the RCAF and Canadian Coast Guard personnel who have responsibility for coordinating aircraft and marine rescue incidents in central and Arctic Canada. The RCAF also operates the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC) from the base, which is tasked with monitoring the Cospas-Sarsat system that detects transmissions from emergency locating beacons on aircraft or marine vessels in distress through Canada's search and rescue area of responsibility.
The Canadian Army also operates the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre, formerly known as the Canadian Parachute Centre.
8 Wing operates several aircraft types, including CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris and CC-177 Globemaster transport aircraft, the CH-146 Griffon search and rescue helicopters, and the CC-144 Challenger VIP transport aircraft. 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 at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport but supported from CFB Trenton.
Current squadrons under 8 Wing include:
Temporary storage facilities were built at the base for the CC-177. Permanent hangars will be built by 2013.
The current commander of the base is Colonel Sean Friday, who assumed his post on August 11, 2011,[14]. From 2009-2010, 8 Wing Trenton was commanded by the infamous Russell Williams, who was formally charged under the Criminal Code with two counts of first-degree murder along with two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of break and enter and sexual assault.[15]
CFB Trenton, based on statistical date from the Fiscal Year 2004-2005, had a annual population impact (Regular Force members & dependants) of 8,185. The airbase also had an estimated local spending impact (direct and indirect) of $278,195,000 for that Fiscal Year. The airbase also directly employed 3,163 people and indirectly employed 437 people. [16]
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