Canadian Air Force C-17s to be based at Trenton

First plane may arrive next summer. Text of an Air Force general message (via Army.ca):

PAGE 2 RCCLHAV6073 UNCLAS CANAIRGEN 025/06
REF: CANAIRGEN 024 CAS 039 071735Z SEP 06

1. ON 22 JUN 06, TB APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF FOUR AIRCRAFT TO ADDRESS CANADA'S STRATEGIC AIRLIFT CAPABILITY SHORTFALL. AN EVALUATION BY ADM(MAT) STAFF HAS RECENTLY CONFIRMED THAT ONLY THE BOEING C-17 MEETS THE CF S MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS. INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE FIRST AIRCRAFT COULD BE DELIVERED TO CANADA AS SOON AS NEXT SUMMER

2. THE NEW FLEET WILL BE FLOWN BY CF AIRCREW AND MAINTAINED AT FIRST LINE BY CF TECHNICIANS. AFTER ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT TRENTON WILL BE THE MOB FOR THE C-17

3. INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO 8 WING ARE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE NEW CAPABILITY. AS THIS WILL NOT BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE C-17 AIRCRAFT, INTERIM BASING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEDDOWN AND HOME STATION CHECKS ARE BEING REVIEWED

4. THE C-17 REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT NEW CAPABILITY FOR THE CF. TRAINING FOR INITIAL CREWS HAS ALREADY BEGUN, AND IT IS INTENDED TO FIELD THIS CAPABILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TO THIS END, A WELL-COORDINATED EFFORT AT ALL LEVELS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE EXPEDITIOUS INTRODUCTION TO SERVICE

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