Hazard Investigation Summary – 17 March 2025 – Epilogue

On 19 January 2022, the Directorate of Flight Safety opened an investigation into Canadian Armed Forces Range Training Areas after numerous range-related Flight Safety occurrences and associated stakeholder concerns were noted. These occurrences involved air-land integration safety concerns that primarily affected crewed aircraft operations but had a larger nexus that related to the management of three-dimensional air and ground operations over Canadian Armed Forces ranges. Although this investigation was not initiated after a specific occurrence within any range, concerns were significant enough to warrant an investigation.

The investigation focussed on Flight Safety occurrence and hazard report statistics over a 10-year period and included investigation into Range Control function, composition, coordination and planning. Range training area governance/orders in addition to current Range Control infrastructure and communications were examined as well as recent initiatives taken to enhance safety of flight.

The investigation found systemic inadequacies in range training area orders and a lack of standardized and effective airspace training for range control personnel. Irregularities in weekly range control meeting participation were noted as well as limitations associated with communications infrastructure that included a lack of real-time aircraft monitoring technology.

The investigation recommends the integration of Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army range training area governance/orders. The modernization of the range training area communication infrastructure and improvements to the range control coordination meeting. The investigation recommends the implementation of an airspace management system which would allow for better real-time situational awareness and deconfliction within Canadian Armed Forces Range Training Areas.