🇨🇦 CFB Cold Lake Airport

CFB Cold Lake (CYOD/YOD) is a Canadian Forces Base operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1954 as RCAF Station Cold Lake, its primary purpose was air weapons training.

Notable Features and History:

• It is one of two bases in Canada housing the CF-18 Hornet fighter jets.
• The base is located approximately 35 km south of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR), a vast 11,700 square kilometer training area with over 640 targets and 100 realistic target complexes, including simulated aerodromes and military equipment. CLAWR is considered the northern equivalent to the USAF's Nellis Air Force Range, offering a unique boreal forest training environment.
• CFB Cold Lake has been a training focal point for various aircraft, including the CF-100 Canuck, CF-104 Starfighter, and currently the CF-18 Hornet.
• In the 1980s, CLAWR was used for controversial testing of AGM-86 Tomahawk cruise missiles by the USAF, launched from strategic bombers over the Beaufort Sea.
• The base hosts "Maple Flag," a major international air weapons training competition, and is used by NASA and ESA astronauts for winter survival training.
• Several of the base's buildings, including Hangars 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and the Senior NCO's Building B-30, are on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.

Current Status: CFB Cold Lake is an operational military air base and Canada's largest and busiest wing, housing 4 Wing. It is home to several RCAF units, including 401, 409, and 410 Tactical Fighter Squadrons (CF-18 Hornet), and 417 Combat Support Squadron (CH-146 Griffon), among others. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada, but international flights are restricted to military aircraft and personnel. Civilian passenger service was previously available but was cancelled in 2011. All transient aircraft require prior permission through 4 Wing Operations.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, globalmilitary.net, scramble.nl, skyvector.com, pilotnav.com*