Ken Pole

Sep 18, 2024 | verticalmag.com | Ken Pole

Just off the dauntingly-named Forbidden Plateau Road, into the mountains of east-central Vancouver Island, a small private airstrip is strewn with wreckage. Near the smoking wingless fuselage of a small aircraft, an engine undercarriage nacelle from a larger plane, as well as sundry debris, are strewn around. In the smaller aircraft, an injured person slumps, moving slightly, while several dozen others cry for help nearby and off in the distance.

Apr 19, 2024 | skiesmag.com | Ken Pole

Estimated reading time 1 minute, 3 seconds. The scope of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) search-and-rescue (SAR) mission in the world’s largest SAR region is starkly reflected in raw numbers. Bordering on three oceans and with myriad islands, the country’s coastline, riven by deep fjords and mountain ranges, is an unrivalled 243,000 kilometres.

Apr 9, 2024 | verticalmag.com | Ken Pole

New airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft and dedicated funding for tactical helicopters to replace the current multi-role CH-146 Griffons, are among the key aerospace elements of an updated defence policy released on April 8. They are also part of the government’s stated commitment to increase defence spending to meet NATO’s goal of two per cent of gross domestic product, a target reaffirmed by Canada and its allies at the 2023 NATO Summit in Lithuania.

Dec 19, 2023 | skiesmag.com | Ken Pole

Estimated reading time 7 minutes, 8 seconds. More than five years after it began a “competitive procurement process,” the Canadian government has confirmed plans to spend $2.5 billion on 11 remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and associated training and infrastructure. Announced Dec.

Nov 1, 2023 | skiesmag.com | Ken Pole

Estimated reading time 6 minutes, 1 seconds. Even as the U.S. Department of Defense continues to wrestle with operations and maintenance costs of its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters, the Canadian government has received potentially comforting news about its planned acquisition of 88 aircraft. Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux said in a Nov. 2 report that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) can expect total life-cycle costs, from development to disposal, of some $73.9 billion.