As the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)’s current long range maritime patrol aircraft nearing its end of service date of 2030, the RCAF has ended the performance of third line inspection repairs on its CP140 Aurora fleet.
While the majority of the retired CP140 aircraft will be stripped for parts, 14 Air Maintenance Squadron (14 AMS) and 415 (Long Range Patrol Force Development) Squadron have given AC118 a special role to play in the fleet’s modernization and life extension project. When AC118 reached its backstop date in November 2024, the two squadrons entered into a discussion with the Director General Aerospace Equipment Program Management’s Aurora fleet weapon systems manager to determine the aircraft’s fate. During this discussion, the WSM expressed the desire to maintain the retiring aircraft’s flyability.
“So, we looked at 118 and said, ‘OK, we’re going to keep this in a flyable state – what other benefits can we get from it?’” said (former) 14 AMS Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Travis. “Rather than let its serviceability status drop, it was kept in a ‘flyable preservation’ to permit 415 Squadron to conduct project work and tests on it, conduct any trial upgrades for ongoing projects and for technicians to practice ground run-ups and engine work.”
To ensure the Aurora’s operational viability throughout the reminder of its operational life, Greenwood’s fleet will undergo a number of avionics suite modifications that will first be tested on AC118.
“The whole purpose of this project is to look at what we need to modify for us to operate with our allies in the same spaces and still fly this aircraft for the next three to five years and then, anything that you don’t absolutely need to do, you should cancel because it’s an unnecessary cost,” said Travis.
By having a dedicated aircraft available for 415 Squadron to perform ground tests on, the bulk of the modernization process may be completed without affecting the flying squadrons’ fleet.
“We’re very high ops tempo and so, to have an extra aircraft available for our operations everyday, it pays dividends. You’ll see that just by looking at the serviceability rate of the CP140 over the last six months to a year, which has been steadily climbing,” said Travis.
Part of the project involves tests and evaluations of the new modifications for electromagnetic interference, effectiveness and interoperability with the Aurora’s current systems, before moving on to in-flight testing.
As an added bonus, the need to keep AC118 in flyable preservation has 14 Wing’s aviation, avionics and aircraft structures technicians training on a real, functioning aircraft.
“What we’re doing is using that aircraft while keeping it in flyable preservation as a huge maintenance trainer for our people,” said Travis. “So, we’re doing all of that work but, at the same time, building the operations of our people.”
The periodic maintenance and inspections required to keep AC118 flyable has given 14 AMS’ technicians valuable practice opportunities, particularly with right hand seat and centre seat run-ups, two major qualifications for which aviation technicians undergo lengthy, hands-on training under the supervision of senior technicians before they are sent to 404 (Long Range Patrol and Training) Squadron for their run-up course.
“Having an additional aircraft in a flyable preservation state has allowed our aviation technicians the opportunity to train and improve their knowledge,” says CP140 periodic inspection planner Sergeant Shawn Jordan. “We have also been able to use AC118 for certain avionics training, testing to improve our ability to troubleshoot on our periodic aircraft and to sign off apprentice and junior AERE (aerospace engineering) officer log books; as the periodic aircraft may not have the required systems installed, or power may not be able to be applied, depending on the current inspection phase.”
Once 415 Squadron’s force development use of AC118 is complete, the aircraft will join the rest of the 14 Wing’s retired Auroras and be stripped for parts, to maintain the last of its operational fleet.
“But for now,” said Travis, “it’s still too valuable as a test bed.”
