Royal Canadian Air Force to conduct Flybys in numerous communities across Canada for Remembrance Day

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will conduct flybys for multiple Remembrance Day commemorations across Canada on November 11.

In a statement, the RCAF noted Aircraft from RCAF Wings throughout Canada would carry these out at various times during the day.

Since COVID-19 restrictions have been put in place across the country, the RCAF encourages Canadians to mark Remembrance Day from their homes as much as they can and observe flybys from a distance while adhering to local public health guidelines.

A wide variety of aircraft will be involved in the flybys, and the different types vary depending on location.

David Lavallee, 1 Canadian Air Division Public Affairs, advised people to maintain social distancing, “First and foremost, we want to make sure that people are following whatever provincial or local health authority restrictions or guidelines are placed in their respective areas. We don’t want to put anybody in any kind of danger or elevated risk for exposure to coronavirus.”

He added that if people can see the flybys from their home, great, but in doing flybys, even if there are no gatherings or events specifically that are being flown past, it’s still a way that the RCAF can honour veterans and the sacrifices made in the past.

This can be done while maintaining a distance and not actually interacting with the communities because the aircraft are all taking off from and recovering at their own bases.

Lavallee says that wants to remind people that while it’s unfortunate, we can’t have Remembrance Day ceremonies this year in most parts of the country, they do want people to stay safe and that despite everything, the RCAF is still proud to be able to do fly pasts like this and pay respects on Remembrance today.

Flybys will take place in the following communities:

Alberta:
Edmonton (three CH-146 Griffons)
Calgary (CC-130H Hercules)

British Columbia:
Campbell River (CC-115 Buffalo)
Courtenay (CH-149 Cormorant)
Cumberland (CH-149 Cormorant)
Sidney (CH-148 Cyclone)
Port Moody (CP-140 Aurora)
Vancouver (CP-140 Aurora).

Ontario:
Bancroft (CC-130H Hercules)
Barrie (CC-130H Hercules and CC-130J Hercules)
Belleville (four CF-18 Hornets and one CC-150T Polaris)
Canadian Forces Base Borden (CC-130H Hercules and CC-130J Hercules) Campbellford (two CH-146 Griffons)
Clinton (CC-130J Hercules)
Deep River (three CH-147F Chinooks)
Foxboro (two CH-146 Griffons)
Frankford (two CH-146 Griffons)
Hamilton (CC-130H Hercules and CC-130J Hercules)
Havelock (two CH-146 Griffons)
Highway of Heroes (three CC-130J Hercules)
Kitchener-Waterloo (CC-130J Hercules)
London (CC-130J Hercules)
Madoc (CC-130H Hercules)
Marmora (two CH-146 Griffons)
Oshawa (three CH-147F Chinooks)
Ottawa (four CF-18 Hornets)
Pembroke (three CH-147F Chinooks)
Pickering (two CC-130J Hercules)
Renfrew (three CH-147F Chinooks)
Stirling (two CH-146 Griffons)
St. Catherines (CC-130J Hercules)
Strathroy (CC-130J Hercules)
Toronto (three CH-147F Chinooks and a CC-130H Hercules)
Trenton (two CH-146 Griffons, two CC-130J Hercules, four CF-18 Hornets and CC-150T Polaris)
Wooler (two CH-146 Griffons).

New Brunswick:
McAdam (four CH-146 Griffons).

Newfoundland and Labrador:
St. John’s (CH-149 Cormorant).

Northwest Territories:
Yellowknife (CC-138 Twin Otter).

Nova Scotia:
Bridgewater (CP-140 Aurora)
Chelsea (CP-140 Aurora)
Cole Harbour (CH-148 Cyclone)
Eastern Passage (CH-148 Cyclone)
Lunenburg (CP-140 Aurora)
Mahone Bay (CP-140 Aurora)
New Germany (CP-140 Aurora)
Parkdale (CP-140 Aurora)
12 Wing Shearwater (CH-148 Cyclone)
Sullivan’s Pond (CH-148 Cyclone)

Québec:
Alma (two CH-146 Griffons)
Dolbeau-Mistassini (two CH-146 Griffons)
Mont-Joli (two CH-146 Griffons)
Normandin (two CH-146 Griffons)
Québec City (two CH-146 Griffons)
Rimouski (two CH-146 Griffons)
Rivière-du-Loup (two CH-146 Griffons)
Roberval (two CH-146 Griffons)
Saguenay (two CH-146 Griffons)
Saint-Fabien (two CH-146 Griffons)
Saint-Félicien (two CH-146 Griffons)
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier (two CH-146 Griffons).

During the flybys, the aircraft will fly at minimum altitudes above the highest obstacle in their path. Flybys conducted by RCAF aircraft are carefully planned and closely controlled for public safety and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions.

For details on the RCAF and their aircraft, visit their website here. www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca.