Abbotsford Airshow takes flight amid military procurement, recruitment efforts

The Abbotsford Airshow — Canada’s largest such event — took flight this weekend, bringing together aircraft enthusiasts and industry experts from across the continent.

The show comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Canada and the U.S. As defence has become a key point of cooperation between the two countries, the Airshow has taken on extra significance this year.

One major point of contention has been the procurement of 88 fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets from American defence contractor Lockheed Martin. According to a report from Reuters, a recent military review is strongly suggesting the Canadian government should move forward with the purchase.

“This is the single dominant fighter that exists in the world today,” said Lockheed Martin global F-35 spokesperson Billie Flynn.

“It will allow Canadian fighter pilots not just to do their missions, to be lethal and effective, but most importantly, to be survivable, and come home every single time, from every single mission. And it’s the future of aviation.”

But others say that by asking the military to conduct the review, the recommendation was a foregone conclusion.

“If you wanted to get a different answer, you‘d have to ask a different question,” said David Perr with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

“If you ask the same question, you’re going to get the same answer that we’ve had multiple times now, which is the F-35 being the best, most capable aircraft for Canada.”

This comes as calls have grown to modernize the nation’s fleet, with its aging CF-18s failing to give Canadian pilots an advantage in the skies.

The other major challenge facing the military is recruiting. Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed this Friday, announcing an extra $2B to boost salaries in the forces, with the hope of increasing enlistment.

This means that the Abbotsford Airshow, besides wowing crowds, is also serving as a de facto recruiting fair.

“Behind us we have the DCS system, which is our flight simulator here … so basically we have two F-18 fighter jet simulators, just like our current fighter fleet, which is the CF-18,” said Maj. Josh Morgan, operations manager of the Royal Canadian Air Force attractions team.

“We give the public the opportunity to fly around and use this equipment and have a chance to see what it’s like to be a fighter pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

And while the CF-18s show their age, the most famous recruitment tool in Canada’s history – the Snowbirds – are flying F planes made in the 1960s.

Capt. Phil Rochon, the Snowbirds’ public information officer, says their fleet is going through an avionics upgrade, with the goal of having the aircraft still in service until about 2030.

“We’re continuing on our mission of inspiring Canadians,” Rochon said.

“The biggest thing that we have right now is that we’re told we have the support of the government and to continue our mission, and that’s what we’re doing.”

But for all the procurement politics and funding pitfalls, the focus at the Airshow remains the roar of the engines as the aircraft flies through the airspace that we share with our Southern neighbours.