Julia LennipsAbove image: The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, an air demonstration team from 431 Squadron Moose Jaw, Sask., fly in formation over the Comox valley 22 April 2008 while training at 19 Wing Comox, BC., for the 2008 air show season. Photo by MCpl Robert Bottrill, courtesy of CF Combat Camera.
The Commander of 2 Canadian Air Division, Brigadier-General Denis O’Reilly, lifted the operational pause on the CT-114 Tutor fleet this week.
The operational pause was put in place after a Snowbirds CT-114 Tutor accident in Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, which resulted in the death of Captain Jennifer Casey, the Snowbirds Public Affairs Officer.
Saddened 2020 Air Demonstration Season Officially Cancelled
Lieutenant-Colonel Denis Bandet, Commanding Officer 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, says, “The Snowbirds continue to mourn the loss of Capt Jennifer Casey. The best way we can honour her is to get back into operations in a safe and deliberate manner. While we are saddened that the 2020 air demonstration season is officially cancelled, and that we will not be completing Operation INSPIRATION, the team is looking forward to getting back in the air and starting to train for next year’s season.”
“The risk analysis for the CT-114 Tutor fleet undertaken by the airworthiness authorities and their teams of experts was detailed and thorough. I have the utmost confidence in their work, and the mitigation measures developed. These measures will enable the fleet to return to flying operations,” says Brigadier-General Denis O’Reilly, Commander 2 Canadian Air Division.
The return to flying operations follows a thorough technical and operational risk analysis that has outlined a series of risk mitigation measures. Since there were two CT-114 Tutor accidents within eight months, the scope of the analysis was designed to be deliberate, detailed, and broad to enhance the general safety of the CT-114 Tutor operations.
Increased Maintenance Requirements
The risk mitigation measures being implemented place some restrictions on flying operations and focus on increased maintenance requirements.
A Directorate of Flight Safety (DFS) investigation into the Kamloops accident continues. Once the DFS investigation is complete, the RCAF will determine if further mitigation measures are required.
“The risk analysis for the CT-114 Tutor fleet undertaken by the airworthiness authorities and their teams of experts was detailed and thorough. I have the utmost confidence in their work, and the mitigation measures developed. These measures will enable the fleet to return to flying operations,” says Brigadier-General Denis O’Reilly, Commander 2 Canadian Air Division.
The remainder of the Snowbirds 2020 air demonstration season has been cancelled, and the team will now focus on a slow return to flying operations.
The DFS investigation into the Georgia accident, which occurred on October 13, 2019, determined that the accident’s most probable cause was a fuel delivery system failure within the engine. The Flight Safety Investigation Report was publicly released on June 29, 2020.
The remainder of the Snowbirds 2020 air demonstration season has been cancelled, and the team will now focus on a slow return to flying operations.
The aircraft in Kamloops, B.C. will return to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Sask., since the operational pause was lifted, which should happen over the next two weeks.
