Canada’s famous Snowbirds are allowed to return to the sky.
The Royal Canadian Air Force announced today that it has decided to lift an operational pause on the Snowbirds CT-114 Tutor fleet. As a result, aircraft that have been parked in Kamloops are now expected to return to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Sask., over the coming weeks.
The Snowbirds fleet had been grounded since mid-May after one of their CT-114 Tutor jets crashed in Kamloops. Capt. Jennifer Casey, a public affairs officer with the Snowbirds, was killed in the crash.
The RCAF says it has conducted a thorough technical and operational risk analysis, designed to be “deliberate, detailed and broad to enhance the general safety of the CT-114 Tutor operations.” It also says there will now be some restrictions on flying operations and increased maintenance requirements.
“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,” said Brigadier-General Denis O’Reilly, Commander 2 Canadian Air Division in a press release.
An investigation into the Kamloops accident continues, according to the RCAF, which said once it is complete it will determine if “further mitigation” measures are required.
The Snowbirds 2020 air demonstration season has been cancelled, and the RCAF says the team will focus on gradually returning to flying operations.
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