RCAF rejected purchase of interim replacement aircraft for Snowbirds in 2019: documents

RCAF leadership decided against a proposal to buy an interim replacement aircraft for the Snowbirds. Photo by SGT HALINA FOLFAS /CANADIAN FORCES

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The Royal Canadian Air Force leadership examined a proposal to rapidly purchase an interim replacement aircraft for the Snowbirds aerobatic team but decided against that option, according to government records.

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A 2019 briefing outlined the proposed options to deal with the aging CT-114 Tutor aircraft used by the Snowbirds. One option was the “rapid procurement or lease of an interim RCAF air demonstration capability,” according to the briefing obtained by the Ottawa Citizen through an access-to-information request.

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No details were included on what interim aircraft might be acquired for the Snowbirds but the military leadership rejected that option. It instead decided to embark on a modernization program to upgrade the current Tutors to keep them flying until 2030, according to the records.

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The future of the Snowbirds was debated in the House of Commons last week amid claims from Conservative MPs that the team will be shut down.

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The minister has publicly committed that “Canadians can rest assured that they will be able to enjoy the iconic Snowbird formation for generations to come.”

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Since the Liberal government has announced it will be spending $81.8 billion on defence over the next five years, some in the Canadian Forces expect that McGuinty will announce that the Snowbirds will be receiving new aircraft.

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The Tutor aircraft have been in the Canadian Forces inventory since 1963 and have been used by the Snowbirds since 1971.

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The RCAF views the team as a strong contributor to its public relations image. But some in the Canadian Forces have privately questioned spending money on the Snowbirds since it does not directly contribute to the RCAF’s combat capabilities.

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The RCAF leadership has also struggled over the years with options on how to keep the aging Tutors flying.

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The 2019 briefing also included an option of continuing with the existing Tutor fleet but by flying fewer aircraft. Another option was to employ an existing RCAF aircraft as the new plane to be used for the aerobatic team.

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Both of those options were also “discounted,” according to the records.

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The documents do not outline reasons for the decision to reject the options.

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RCAF leadership decided against a proposal to buy an interim replacement aircraft for the Snowbirds. Photo by Canadian Forces Photo by MASTER SEAMAN ROXANNE WOOD /CANADIAN FORCES

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The Royal Canadian Air Force did not provide comment about why it decided against the various options.

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It’s not the first time that recommendations have been made to use other aircraft for the Snowbirds. In 2006, RCAF officers suggested that CF-18 fighter jets replace the Tutors. Using CF-18s would increase the ability of the team to perform around the world but reduce their availability for smaller venues in Canada that have runways too short to accommodate the jets.