November 30, 2023, Canada announced it would purchase up to 16 P8A Poseidon Multi-Mission Aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force, set to replace the fleet of CP140 Auroras. Training and preparations are already underway to ensure Canada’s new maritime patrol capabilities come online smoothly as deliveries roll out in the years ahead.
A Canadian crew, comprising eight members, including two pilots, two air combat systems officers and four airborne electronic sensor operators; are undergoing specialized training on the P8A Poseidon at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, in Florida. They have already completed one year of intensive training, marking a major leap forward in Canada’s ability to patrol and protect its vast maritime domains. Other Canadian personnel have already received training with allies in the United Kingdom and Australia.
“The capabilities of the P8A are quite different from those of the CP140 Aurora,” says Captain Rodney Hallsworth, the first Canadian pilot trained on the Poseidon.
“From a pilot’s perspective, the main comparison to draw between them is that the CP140 is designed to be hand-flown much of the time, while the Poseidon is better suited to being ‘managed,’ due to its advanced automation and flight management system (FMS).”
Before joining the P8A program, Hallsworth had extensive operational experience with the CP140 in Greenwood, and completed a tour in Australia flying the P8A before Canada adopted the platform. This experience positioned him perfectly to help shape the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) program.
Training in Jacksonville involves close collaboration with U.S. counterparts at Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30). According to Hallsworth, “we are integrating well with our American colleagues. There are occasional challenges to overcome, but being the first Canadian crew to tread this path in the United States is a privilege. After we complete the course, we will then become instructors, helping train the next wave of Canadian crews in Jacksonville.”
The Poseidon offers impressive range, endurance and efficiency, enabling Canadian crews to monitor the furthest reaches of the country’s areas of responsibility for extended periods. Future integration of air-to-air refueling will further expand the aircraft’s operational reach.
“Ultimately, we will have numerous crews of skilled, dedicated, well-trained operators capable of successfully conducting many different types of missions,” says Hallsworth. “This is an incredible vision for the future, and once realized, I think every person within the long range patrol community will be proud of the progress made.”
Transitioning to the P8A does come with challenges, particularly mastering its automated systems.
“As a pilot, the most challenging aspect is learning to anticipate how the aircraft will respond to FMS inputs,” says Hallsworth. “Once understood, however, using the flight deck automated systems to their full capacity allows the Poseidon to be flown safely, effectively and efficiently.”
Looking ahead, he offers practical advice for future Canadian crews coming to Jacksonville.
“There is quite a lot of administrative work to do upon arrival, so reach out to the team at the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington – they are a great resource. Prepare for the U.S. Navy Water Survival Course by spending lots of time at the pool, especially if water anxiety is a factor. Many experienced aircrew members will become students again, so minimize rigidity, stay open to learning and adapt your existing experience to new circumstances. And, finally, prepare for some very warm weather for a significant part of the year!”
Reprinted from connect2canada.com
