🇨🇦 CFB Greenwood Airport

CFB Greenwood (IATA: YZX, ICAO: CYZX) is a Canadian Forces Base located 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) east of Greenwood, Nova Scotia. It is Canada's largest operational air force base on the Atlantic coast.

Type of facility and operations: CFB Greenwood is primarily operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 14 Wing. The base is one of two in Canada that uses the CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus anti-submarine/maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. Other aircraft permanently stationed at the base include the CH-149 Cormorant (air-sea rescue), CC-130 Hercules (air-sea rescue, transport), and CC-295 Kingfisher (air-sea rescue).

CFB Greenwood also serves as a forward deployment base for CF-188 Hornet fighter/interceptor aircraft rotating in from CFB Bagotville as part of NORAD's post-9/11 response to concerns about civilian airline security along North America's east coast.

Civilian operations have moved back into CFB Greenwood, with facilities operated by Freedom Aviation. Civilian aircraft require registration with Freedom Aviation or prior permission to use the airport.

Notable features or history: The airfield was constructed between 1940 and 1942 as RAF Station Greenwood, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). Early training aircraft included the Lockheed Hudson MK III, Avro Anson, and Westland Lysander. During World War II, it was also involved in combat operations through maritime reconnaissance to counter U-boat activity.

In 1968, the RCAF Station Greenwood was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Greenwood when the RCN, RCAF, and Canadian Army were unified into the Canadian Forces. The base became a key site for maritime reconnaissance training and anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War. In 1991, following the closure of CFB Summerside, the majority of military personnel and 413 Squadron (with its CH-113 Labrador and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft) were transferred to CFB Greenwood.

CFB Greenwood hosts a Royal Canadian Air Cadets summer training centre (CTC Greenwood) and is home to 517 Flight Lieutenant Graham Squadron, a local air cadet unit.

Current status: CFB Greenwood is an active military air base. It remains Canada's largest operational air force base on the Atlantic coast.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, skyvector.com, globalmilitary.net, freedomaviation.ca*