3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School
Encyclopedia
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
3 CFFTS conducts Primary Flight Training on the Grob G 120A. Helicopter training is done on the Bell CH-139
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
Jet Ranger and the Bell 412 helicopter (retired CH-146 Griffon
CH-146 Griffon
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks....
s). Multi-engine training is conducted on the Beechcraft King Air C-90B
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
.
The school is based at the Southport Aerospace Centre (formerly CFB Portage la Prairie). The service companies of Allied Wings
Allied Wings
Allied Wings Limited Partnership operates the Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre located in Southport, Manitoba.The 22 year contract was announced on 30 March 2005 by the Minister of National Defence and will provide flying training support at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.Through the...
and Southport Aerospace Centre provide all support services for 3 CFFTS, including aircraft maintenance and airfield operations.
3 CFFTS uses civilian pilots to teach primary pilot training and the air navigator courses. Military pilots are employed to teach the helicopter and multi-engine aircraft courses.
History
Portage la Prairie has been the site of military primary flight training since World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it was home to No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. Following the war the base was retained as the home of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
's 3 Flying Training School, the direct ancestor of 3 CFFTS.
3 CFFTS was first formed on 1 July 1970 at CFB Portage la Prairie. It was made up of personnel and equipment drawn from 1 Primary Flying School, CFB Borden
CFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
who flew the de Havilland Canada CT-120 Chipmunk
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
trainers
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
, 4 Flying Training School, CFB Rivers
CFB Rivers
CFB Rivers was a Royal Canadian Air Force base located in Manitoba, Canada.It was originally opened as RCAF Station Rivers in May 1942 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as the home of No. 1 Air Navigation School. The base remained open after the war, becoming a training centre for...
who flew Hiller CH-112 Nomad helicopters and 3 Flying Training School, Portage la Prairie who flew the Beech CT-128 Expeditor multi-engine trainer.
During 1971 the Chipmunks were replaced with the Beech CT-134 Musketeers and the Nomads were replaced by Bell CH-136 Kiowas
OH-58 Kiowa
The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S...
.
During the 1970s the school created two air demonstration teams, staffed by instructors, the Dragonflies, flying the CH-136 Kiowa and the Musket Gold with CT-134 Musketeer.
During 1981 the CT-134 Musketeers were in need of replacement and a newer version, the Beechcraft C23 Sundowners
Beechcraft Musketeer
The Beechcraft Musketeer is a family of single-engine, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by Beechcraft. The line includes the Model 19 Musketeer Sport, the Model 23 Musketeer, Custom and Sundowner, the Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III the retractable gear Model 24-R Sierra and the military...
was procured as the CT-134A Musketeer. At the same time the CH-136 Kiowas were returned to the tactical helicopter squadrons that they had come from and were replaced by new-purchase CH-139 Jet Rangers
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
.
During 1992 CFB Portage la Prairie was closed and the base facilities turned over to a new civil organization, the Southport Aerospace Centre. All previous support functions, including the provision of aircraft and their maintenance and the running of the airport, was contacted out to civilian companies.
This new Contracted Flight Training and Support Program resulted in the Musketeers being replaced with Slingsby T-67C Firefly
Slingsby T-67 Firefly
The Slingsby T67 Firefly, originally produced as the Fournier RF-6, is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, England...
trainers. The military instructors who had taught the Primary Flying Course were replaced by contract civilian instructors.
Multi-engine and helicopter training was conducted by military instructors using the Beech C-90A King Air
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
and the CH-139 Jet Rangers.
In 2005 a $1.77 billion, 20-year Contracted Flying Training and Support Contract was awarded to Allied Wings
Allied Wings
Allied Wings Limited Partnership operates the Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre located in Southport, Manitoba.The 22 year contract was announced on 30 March 2005 by the Minister of National Defence and will provide flying training support at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.Through the...
to continue the program to 2025. This resulted in the following equipment changes:
- Slingsby T-67C Fireflies replaced with Grob G-120As
- C-90A King Airs replaced with Raytheon C-90B King AirsBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
. - CH-139 Jet Rangers refurbished
- Nine former CH-146 GriffonCH-146 GriffonThe Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks....
s added to the 3 CFFTS fleet for advanced helicopter training.
See also
- 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School1 Canadian Forces Flying Training SchoolThe lineage of 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School can be traced back through previous similarly named Canadian military pilot flying schools - No. 1 Service Flying Training School The lineage of 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (1 CFFTS) can be traced back through previous similarly...
- 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School is one of the Royal Canadian Air Force's training centres for pilots and also one of the facilities of the NFTC program.-Facilities:The school is located at CFB Moose Jaw with:* classrooms...
- Canadian Forces Air Command