🇨🇦 CFB Trenton Airport

CFB Trenton (CYTR/YTR) is a Canadian Forces Base located in Quinte West, Ontario, approximately 175 km east of Toronto. It is the largest and most southerly air force base in Canada and serves as the hub for air transport operations for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) both domestically and internationally.

Type of Facility and Operations:

• Military Air Force Base: Operated by the RCAF, its primary lodger unit is 8 Wing.
• Air Transport: It is the main base for the RCAF's fixed-wing tactical airlift and all strategic airlift aircraft, including CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris, and CC-177 Globemaster III transport aircraft.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): CFB Trenton plays a key role in Canada's National Search and Rescue Program, housing the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton (JRCC Trenton) and the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC). It also operates CH-146 Griffon search and rescue helicopters.
• Training: Historically, it was a major training center, including being the largest training center for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II. It also houses the Air Mobility Training Centre.
• Special Operations: The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU), a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) capability of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, is based at CFB Trenton.
• Civilian Use: Civilian aircraft use is restricted to emergencies or MEDEVACs, and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers can only process general aviation aircraft with up to 15 passengers.

Notable Features and History:

• Establishment: Originally RCAF Station Trenton, it was established in 1931 on 960 acres of farmland, chosen for its midpoint location between Ottawa and Toronto and its potential for seaplane operations on Lake Ontario.
• Renaming: It was renamed CFB Trenton in 1968 following the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Heritage Buildings: Several buildings on the base are recognized or classified Federal Heritage buildings.
• COVID-19 Quarantine Facility: In 2020, CFB Trenton was used as a quarantine facility for Canadians repatriated from areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current Status:

• Active Military Base: CFB Trenton remains a critical operational base for the RCAF.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: The Department of National Defence is investing $850 million in significant upgrades and new infrastructure, including resurfacing runways, aprons, and taxiways, and constructing a new hangar, training facility, and fuel depot. These upgrades will support the arrival and long-term operation of up to seven CC-330 Husky aircraft, which will replace the existing CC-150 Polaris fleet for air-to-air refueling, strategic airlift, and other operations. This construction is expected to continue into 2026, with full project completion anticipated by 2033.
• Runways: The airport has multiple runways, with the longest being 10,001 ft (3,048 m).

*Sources researched: cfmws.ca, thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, en.wikipedia.org, canada.ca, skyvector.com*