NATO Air Training Plan
Encyclopedia
The NATO Air Training Plan was an aircrew training program which ran from 1950 - 1958, authorized by NATO, and implemented by the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF). The program trained pilots and navigators from NATO signatory countries with the purpose of improving NATO airpower in response to the perceived military threat in Europe from Soviet bloc countries.
Like the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP) of the Second World War, Canada was chosen because of its remoteness from the potential battle areas in Europe. Also, like the BCATP, the NATO Air Training Plan trained aircrew from many countries other than Canada and the United Kingdom
, and used air stations throughout Canada, with many located on the prairies well away from congested urban areas and where the land was open and flat. Indeed many of the old BCATP stations were expanded and used for the NATO training program. Trainees came from such countries as the UK, Denmark
, Norway
, the Netherlands, France
, Spain
, Portugal
, Turkey
, West Germany
, Belgium
, Greece
, and Italy
.
Training began at RCAF Station London, Ontario
, at the NATO Training & Induction School ( relocated to RCAF Station Centralia
in 1954) where students were familiarized with RCAF aircraft and flying terminology, and were taught flight procedures, meteorology, basic navigation and basic English. Student navigators went to an Air Navigation School (ANS) such as RCAF Station Winnipeg or RCAF Station Summerside. For pilots, the next step was Flying Training School (FTS) using Harvard aircraft. Training continued on T-33
jet trainers, Beechcraft Expeditors, or Mitchells
at an Advanced Flying School (AFS). Training changed in 1956 when a Primary Flying Training school was opened at RCAF Station Centralia. At Centralia, student pilots first trained on de Havilland Chipmunks and then on Harvards. After primary training, pilots were selected to train on multi-engine aircraft or single-engine aircraft. For multi-engine aircraft, trainees went to an Advanced Flying School where they would train on Expeditors or Mitchells. For single-engine aircraft, trainees would go to one of several other Advanced Flying Schools using T-33 jet trainers. RCAF graduate pilots would be posted to an Operational Training Unit (OTU) where they would learn to fly operational aircraft. Foreign pilot graduates would be sent home.
By 1957, many of the countries involved had their own training facilities so the program began to wind down. Limited bilateral training continued, however, for countries unable to train their own aircrew. Two of these countries were Denmark and Norway.
Canada currently operates a similar program called NATO Flying Training in Canada
(NFTC).
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...
(RCAF). The program trained pilots and navigators from NATO signatory countries with the purpose of improving NATO airpower in response to the perceived military threat in Europe from Soviet bloc countries.
Like 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...
(BCATP) of the Second World War, Canada was chosen because of its remoteness from the potential battle areas in Europe. Also, like the BCATP, the NATO Air Training Plan trained aircrew from many countries other than Canada and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and used air stations throughout Canada, with many located on the prairies well away from congested urban areas and where the land was open and flat. Indeed many of the old BCATP stations were expanded and used for the NATO training program. Trainees came from such countries as the UK, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the Netherlands, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Training began at RCAF Station London, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, at the NATO Training & Induction School ( relocated to RCAF Station Centralia
RCAF Station Centralia
RCAF Station Centralia was a Royal Canadian Air Force training base located just outside the village of Centralia near Exeter, Ontario, Canada. It became one of the largest training stations in Canada....
in 1954) where students were familiarized with RCAF aircraft and flying terminology, and were taught flight procedures, meteorology, basic navigation and basic English. Student navigators went to an Air Navigation School (ANS) such as RCAF Station Winnipeg or RCAF Station Summerside. For pilots, the next step was Flying Training School (FTS) using Harvard aircraft. Training continued on T-33
Canadair T-33
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* "Canada's Fab Four". Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Limited, August, 2003. ISSN 0955-7091....
jet trainers, Beechcraft Expeditors, or Mitchells
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
at an Advanced Flying School (AFS). Training changed in 1956 when a Primary Flying Training school was opened at RCAF Station Centralia. At Centralia, student pilots first trained on de Havilland Chipmunks and then on Harvards. After primary training, pilots were selected to train on multi-engine aircraft or single-engine aircraft. For multi-engine aircraft, trainees went to an Advanced Flying School where they would train on Expeditors or Mitchells. For single-engine aircraft, trainees would go to one of several other Advanced Flying Schools using T-33 jet trainers. RCAF graduate pilots would be posted to an Operational Training Unit (OTU) where they would learn to fly operational aircraft. Foreign pilot graduates would be sent home.
By 1957, many of the countries involved had their own training facilities so the program began to wind down. Limited bilateral training continued, however, for countries unable to train their own aircrew. Two of these countries were Denmark and Norway.
Canada currently operates a similar program called NATO Flying Training in Canada
NATO Flying Training in Canada
NATO Flight Training in Canada is a military flight training program for NATO and allied air forces provided by the Canadian Forces.Located at 15 Wing, CFB Moose Jaw in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and 4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, the program is delivered as a cooperative operation between a...
(NFTC).