Canada. 17 Wing (Winnipeg, MB.) : 17 Wing is a composite formation, supporting and conducting flying operations and a variety of training functions.The Wing is comprised of three squadrons and six schools. It also provides support to the Central Flying School. The Wing also provides technical and logistical support to some 113 Units, stretching from Thunder Bay to Shilo, Manitoba and the 49th Parallel to sites in the Arctic.
402 Squadron has the role of supporting the navigation school. 435 Squadron is responsible for strategic airlift, CF-18 air-to-air refueling and search and rescue while 1 Air Movements Squadron supports air transport operations. 17 Wing provides logistical and administrative support to 440 Squadron, located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where its primary mission is to support Canadian Forces Northern Area and other military operations primarily in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The Wing runs several aviation schools. The Canadian Forces Air Navigation School trains all navigators for the Canadian Forces on the Canadian built, CT-142 DASH 8.
The Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies runs post graduate courses in specialized fields such as Aerospace Systems, Basic and Advanced Electronic Warfare and space operations. This School is also responsible for the Air Force Air Operations Course. The Canadian Forces School of Meteorology provides training in meteorology and oceanography to all Canadian Forces Met technicians.
Since the closure of CFB Portage-la-Prairie in August 1992, 17 Wing has been supporting 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School. It provides basic flying training on Slingsby Aircraft, multi-engine training on the C-90 King Air and advanced helicopter flying on the CH-139 Jet Ranger for all Canadian Forces pilots under the auspices of the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) contract. Bombardier Canada currently holds this training contract.
17 Wing has two principal locations. At the North site, the Ministry of Transport owns and controls the airfield. 17 Wing owns and operates the military ramp and portions of two taxiways. The main users of the South site are Wing supply, Wing electrical and mechanical engineers and the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. 17 Wing is the only Air Command Base housing a major Army combat unit.
Also unique to 17 Wing is the number of headquarters, general officers and the high incidence of Very Important Person (VIP) movements. In its long history, CFB Winnipeg and 17 Wing have hosted a number of Headquarters including: No 2 Training Command Tactical Group Headquarters, 14 Training Group, Air Reserve Group Headquarters, Manitoba Lakehead District Headquarters (Renamed to 38 Brigade Headquarters), and Air Command Headquarters which oversees all air operations for the Canadian Forces (which was moved to National Defence Headquarters in July 1997).
The Base is now the home of 1 Canadian Air Division / NORAD Region Headquarters.
