Snowbird Training At Municipal Airport No Policy Change For Base
No freebie and no changes in policies military says
By Robert Thomas
When the Snowbirds aerobatic team trains over the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport (MJMAA) April 3rd - April 7th it won’t be for free nor is 15 Wing reversing their policies when it comes to training and using the City owned airport.
At the present time 15 Wing continues with a standing policy that the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport is not needed for regular flight training purposes.
Additionally, there has been no policy change when it comes to 15 Wing’s or their personnel’s involvement in local municipal politics.
That’s the word from 15 Wing in written responses to questions from MJ Independent.
“The Canadian Forces (CF) Snowbirds are practicing at the local municipal airport to give our pilots a different training experience. Going from coast to coast, our pilots are asked to fly maneuvers over different airfield and terrain, and although the terrain is like the 15 Wing base, the Moose Jaw municipal airport offers a different perspective for the team members,” the base responded in an email.
Another reason for the Snowbirds to train at the municipal airport is due to conflict with other training at the base.
“Having the team fly at the Moose Jaw municipal airport also allows a deconfliction of the 15 Wing runways and airspace with 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School. Practicing at the local airport offers a flying window of opportunity needed by the team to get ready for airshow season,” the base responded.
In the past the base told MJ independent they do not need to make use of the municipal Airport for training purposes. There is no indication those policies have changed.
15 wing also made it abundantly clear to the organizers of the local Airport Authority - when the airport authority was being formed - they were not looking for regular training at the facility. Anything else is a misrepresentation 15 Wing said at the time.
“15 Wing has not been involved in lobbying for the municipal airport. We looked into the potential use and provided answers to the city regarding that potential use with the understanding that our inquiry and answers provided were in no way confirmation that we would use the airport even if expanded,” National Defence Headquarters told MJ Independent in April 2018.
Safety is highly important to 15 Wing in this operation.
The military do not plan to fly over any portion of the city or other populated areas as part of their training for safety reasons.
In the past a conflict between training at the base and civilian flights led to a major catastrophe in April 1954 costing 37 lives in the air as well as on the ground.
“The team will not be flying their practice above the city or any population,” the response to MJ Independent stated, adding “The Royal Canadian Air Force always makes sure our training and flying follows the most rigorous safety regulations.”
The 1957 catastrophe led to civilian planes, not being allowed to operate south of the city and also restricted military use north of Moose Jaw.
“To assure the safety of everyone in the region of the municipal airport our team asked the airport authority to restrict the airspace for the duration of the practice. We will also have safety staff on the ground to assure that no airplane or personnel goes on the runway or taxiway during our flight.”
NAV Canada, 15 Wing and the MJMAA were involved in discussions to have the training approved.
Additionally the military wants to maintain good relationships with area residents.
The military has contacted farmers over their training route to let them know what they are doing.
A Freedom Of Information {FOI) request to the Department of National Defence by MJ Independent shows there have been complaints from residents in areas the military regularly trains in.
No Freebie
Although the municipal airport does not charge Landing fees the training by the Snowbirds will not be for free.
15 Wing will be paying a standard landing fee they pay to all airports to the Municipal Airport Authority.
“For the practice period, DND is paying the equivalent of landing and services fee they would normally pay at any airport they fly across Canada. Given the MJMAA doesn’t charge any fee this is done as a courtesy for compensating the use of the airspace’s facility,” if they would be financially contributing to the City of Moose Jaw subsidized facility.
Not paying any fees to the MJMAA could be seen as the local tax payer subsidizing a DND operation.
The planning to pratice at the municipal airport has been going on for months and not years.
During the founding of the Airport Authority claims were made 15 Wing could potentially be using the municipal airport as part of their training. At the time National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa adamantly denied any plans to conduct training at the City owned facility.
No Role In Politics or Airport Decisions
The military has no involvement in the operations or decisions made by the Airport Authority and therefore are not involved in municipal politics the base responded.
The military has a long-standing policy, where they or they are personnel are not involved in any way, shape or form in municipal or other politics.
The “self-sufficient” and independent Airport Authority re-entered the political world by requesting the City to help fund a study during the 2023 budget deliberations.
Additionally, the municipal airport receives $30,000 a year subsidy from the city plus the income from adjacent City owned farmland.
The funding for the MJMAA was a local hot button issue during its formation.
“15 Wing Moose Jaw isn’t a member of the MJMAA and therefore is not involved in any way in their decision-making process regarding the operational and financial activities or actions of the civilian organization.”
Asked whether the military was planning to use the facility for further training, purposes and contribute financially to the local taxpayer subsidized MJMAA MJ Independent was referred to national defence headquarters in Ottawa.
We have a call in on this issue to Ottawa and will report back when we receive a response.