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* [[Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg|20px]] [[Aeronautica Militare]] ([[Italy]])
* [[Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg|20px]] [[Aeronautica Militare]] ([[Italy]])
* [[Image:Netherlands roundel.svg|20px]] [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] ([[Netherlands]])
* [[Image:Netherlands roundel.svg|20px]] [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] ([[Netherlands]])

== Fixed base operators (FBOs) ==
The following [[fixed base operator]]s are based at Gander International Airport:
* [[Air Labrador]]
* Woodward Aviation



==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:33, 9 March 2012

CFB Goose Bay

Goose Bay Airport
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
OwnerGovernment of Canada
OperatorDND
Goose Bay Airport Corporation
LocationGoose Bay, Labrador
Elevation AMSL160 ft / 49 m
Website5 Wing Goose Bay
Map
CYYR is located in Newfoundland and Labrador
CYYR
CYYR
Location in Newfoundland and Labrador
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08/26 11,051 3,368 Concrete with asphalt overlay
16/34 9,580 2,920 Concrete with asphalt overlay
Statistics (2010)
Aircraft movements28,871
Source: Canada Flight Supplement[1]
Environment Canada[2]
Movements from Statistics Canada.[3]
CFB Goose Bay Diagram

Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay (IATA: YYR, ICAO: CYYR) (also CFB Goose Bay), is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

CFB Goose Bay is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the site of NATO tactical flight training in Canada.

The base was initially a Royal Canadian Air Force station[4] and later a United States Air Force base known as Goose AFB, housing units of the Strategic Air Command[5] and Aerospace Defense Command. It was later home to permanent detachments of the Royal Air Force, the Luftwaffe, the Aeronautica Militare, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force, in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries. The base is the home of 444 Combat Support Squadron and also serves as a forward operating base for NORAD CF-18 Hornet interceptors.

CFB Goose Bay's airfield is also used by civilian aircraft, with civilian operations at the base referring to the facility as Goose Bay Airport. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.[1]

Royal Canadian Air Force

CFB Station Crest
CFB Station Crest
5 Wing Goose Bay
Luftwaffe Tornados at CFB Goose Bay
Royal Air Force Panavia Tornados at CFB Goose Bay
US Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle at CFB Goose Bay
CH-135 Twin Huey from Base Rescue Goose Bay (later 444 Squadron)
Avro Vulcan XL361 on display at CFB Goose Bay

The former U.S. facilities were redesignated CFB Goose Bay (the second time this facility name has been used). The value of the airfield and facilities built and improved by the USAF since 1953 and transferred to Canada were estimated in excess of $250 million (USD).[citation needed]

The Canadian Forces continued to use Goose Bay for staging interceptor aircraft, however Canadian Forces Air Command concentrated on purchasing the new CF-18 interceptor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. CF-18s for eastern Canada were to be based at CFB Bagotville in Quebec, thus the future was looking bleak for both CFB Goose Bay and CFB Chatham.[citation needed]

In 1983, a NASA Boeing 747 transport aircraft carrying the Space Shuttle Enterprise landed at CFB Goose Bay to refuel on its way to a European tour where the shuttle was then displayed in France and the United Kingdom. This was the first time that a U.S. space shuttle ever "landed" outside the United States. [citation needed]

In response to lessons learned from the Vietnam War and the growing sophistication of Soviet anti-aircraft radar and surface-to-air missile technology being deployed in Europe, NATO allies began looking at new doctrines in the 1970s-1980s which mandated low-level flight to evade detection. CFB Goose Bay's location in Labrador, with a population of around 30,000 and area measuring 294,000 km², made it an ideal location for low-level flight training. Labrador's sparse settlement and a local topography similar to parts of the Soviet Union, in addition to proximity to European NATO nations, "sealed the deal" which saw CFB Goose Bay grow to become the primary low-level tactical training area for several NATO air forces during the 1980s.[citation needed]

The increased low-level flights by fighter aircraft was not without serious controversy as the Innu Nation protested these operations vociferously, claiming that the noise of aircraft travelling at supersonic speeds in close proximity to the ground ("nap of the earth flying") was adversely affecting wildlife, namely caribou, and was a nuisance to their way of life on their traditional lands. Many protests evolved into dangerous activities, including trespassing into the low-level flying ranges (at detriment of the safety of protesters), and even to shooting hunting rifles at the fighter aircraft. The protests, while having died down with changes in operating areas and raising of flight altitudes, have never really disappeared.[citation needed]

During the 1980s-1990s, CFB Goose Bay hosted permanent detachments from the Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, Royal Netherlands Air Force, and the Aeronautica Militare, in addition to temporary deployments from several other NATO countries. Goose Bay was a very attractive training facility for these air forces in light of the high population concentration in their countries, as well as numerous laws preventing low-level flying. Many of the ranges surrounding CFB Goose Bay are larger than some European countries.[citation needed]

In 1988, the Pinetree Line radar site at CFS Goose Bay was closed. The permanent RNAF detachment left CFB Goose Bay in the 1990s, although temporary training postings have been held since.[citation needed]

On 11 September 2001, CFB Goose Bay hosted seven trans-Atlantic commercial airliners which were diverted to land as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, following the closure of North American airspace as a result of terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. It was also the first Canadian airport to receive diverted aircraft.[citation needed]

In 2004 the RAF announced its intent to close the permanent RAF detachment, effective 31 March 2005. The German and Italian air forces have agreements signed to use the base until 2006, however these have not been renewed. These air forces still operate at Goose Bay, but plan to initiate simulator training instead.[6] The base continues in its role as a low-level tactical training facility and as a forward deployment location for Canadian Forces Air Command, although the total complement of Canadian Forces personnel numbers less than 100.[citation needed]

Base Rescue Flight and 444 Combat Support Squadron

To provide rescue and range support to the jet aircraft operating from Goose Bay the Canadian Forces provided a Base Rescue Flight consisting of three CH-135 Twin Huey helicopters. In 1993 the Base Rescue Flight was re-badged 444 Combat Support Squadron and continued to operate the same fleet of three helicopters. In 1996 the CH-135s were replaced with three CH-146 Griffon helicopters.[7][8]

Ballistic Missile Defence

Labradorian politicians such as Liberal Senator Bill Rompkey have advocated using CFB Goose Bay as a site for a missile defense radar system being developed by the United States Department of Defense. Executives from defense contractor Raytheon have surveyed CFB Goose Bay as a suitable location for deploying such a radar installation.[9]

Airlines and destinations

Civil
AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Express operated by EVAS Air Gander, Sept-Îles, Wabush
Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air Halifax, St. John's
EVAS Air Iqaluit, Gander
Air Labrador Blanc-Sablon, Sept-Îles, Nain, Natuashish, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale, Rigolet, Cartwright, Black Tickle
CHC Helicopter charter
Cougar Helicopters charter
Provincial Airlines Blanc-Sablon, Churchill Falls, Deer Lake, Sept-Îles, St Anthony, St John's, Wabush, Nain, Natuashish, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale, Rigolet, Voisey's Bay Nickel Mine
Universal Helicopters charter
Military

Fixed base operators (FBOs)

The following fixed base operators are based at Gander International Airport:


See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ Synoptic/Metstat Station Information
  3. ^ Total aircraft movements by class of operation
  4. ^ Military Presence In Labrador
  5. ^ Strategic Air Command Bases
  6. ^ "To Cope with Flying Restrictions, German Pilots Turn to Simulators". Defense Industry Daily. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  7. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (2007-06-15). "444 Squadron History". Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  8. ^ AEROWARE / RCAF.com (undated). "No. 444 Squadron". Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ U.S. missile company scouts Labrador
  • A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  • Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
  • Information for Melville AS, Goose Bay, NL

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