4 Wing Cold Lake/
CFB Cold Lake
Provides general purpose, multi-role, combat capable forces for domestic and international operations. 4 Wing is the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) centre for fighter pilot training and is the largest fighter base in Canada.
Caption
Corporal Will Skinner (right), a Flight Engineer for 417 Combat Support Squadron (417 CSS) gives Captain Eric Weaver, a pilot for 417 CSS, a thumbs up indicating the CH-146 Griffon is ready for start-up at the 42 Radar Squadron site in Primrose Lake Evaluation Range, Primrose Lake, Alberta, on August 29, 2023.
Photo: Corporal Alex Thornton, RCAF Imagery Technician.
Caption
Corporal Shane Fortin (left), Private William Azlan, and Private Abderrahmane Hambli (right), members of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, walk away from a CH-146 Griffon after loading a practice patient onto the aircraft during Exercise Northern Grizzly at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on January 26, 2024.
Photo: Corporal Kastleen Strome, RCAF Imagery Technician.
Caption
Master Corporal Aaron Devost lowers Master Corporal Austin Collier from a CH-146 Griffon during Exercise Frozen Muskox 24 on March 19, 2024, at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Photo: Corporal Sera Lamming, Canadian Army Imagery Technician.
Caption
The 2024 RCAF CF-188 Hornet Demonstration Jet conducting airshow practice at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on April 6, 2024.
Photo: Aviator Natalie Chilcott, RCAF Imagery Technician.
Caption
A member from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron participating in a mission during Rotary Wing Air Intercept Training at the Cold Lake Air Weapon Range, 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on April 9, 2025.
Photo: Corporal Sera Lamming, Canadian Army Imagery Technician.
Caption
Corporal Geoff Dalton, RCAF CH-147 Chinook Flight Engineer, approaches to gather troops from 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry for their Paratrooper Operation training during the Advanced Tactical Aviation Course at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on April 21, 2025.
Photo: Corporal Sera Lamming, Canadian Army Imagery Technician.
Caption
An aerial image of 4 Wing Cold Lake taken from an RCAF CH-146 Griffon at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on May 21, 2025.
Photo: Corporal Kastleen Strome, RCAF Imagery Technician.
Caption
Members of 4 Wing supporting the Battle of Britain Parade in Cold Lake, Alberta, on September 21, 2025.
Photo: Aviator Marcos Resch, Canadian Armed Forces.
Caption
A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stands vigil at the cenotaph during the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cold Lake Energy Centre, Alberta, on November 11, 2025.
Photo: Corporal Emilie Laroche, Canadian Armed Forces.
Caption
An RCAF CF-188 Hornet sits on the runway at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, on October 8, 2025.
Photo: Private Michaela Boyd, Canadian Armed Forces.
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About
4 Wing is located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake in Cold Lake, Alberta. It is under the operational command of 1 Canadian Air Division. The Commander of 4 Wing is also Commander of CFB Cold Lake and is responsible for all base administrative, operational, and logistical support.
4 Wing/CFB Cold Lake hosts training for Canada's world-class tactical fighter force to prepare RCAF and international personnel for the modern aerial battlespace. It also has an almost unrestricted air weapons range that is 1.17 million hectares and is equipped with state-of-the-art threats and targets.
Squadrons
| Name | City | Province | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | CF-188 Hornet |
| 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | CF-188 Hornet |
| 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | CF-188 Hornet |
| 417 Domestic Response Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | CH-146 Griffon |
| 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | CF-188 Hornet |
| 1 Air Maintenance Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
| 4 Mission Support Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
| 4 Operations Support Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
| 10 Field Technical Training Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
| 42 Radar Squadron | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
| 4 Wing Air Reserve Flight | Cold Lake | Alberta | Non-flying |
Forward Operation Locations
- Forward Operating Location Inuvik
- Forward Operating Location Yellowknife
Lodger units
- 11 Military Police Flight
- 1 Military Police Squadron
- 434 Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron
- 4 Construction Engineering Squadron
- Fighter Standards and Evaluation Team
- Real Property Operations Unit (West) Detachment Cold Lake
Equipment
- TPS-77
Command Team
Commander
Colonel
M.C. Hickey, MSM, CD
Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer
C.L. Oliveira, MMM, CD
Aircraft
Badge and motto
Auf Wacht (On Watch)
Argent, an ogress charged with a bar wavy Azure edged Or and surmounted by three tilting lances palewise Argent with pennants per fess Sable and Argent flying to the sinister.
Honorary Colonel Darlene Gates
An Honorary Colonel is a distinguished civilian appointed by the Minister of National Defence to strengthen relationships with local, professional, and civic communities. The role is honorary and advisory in nature, providing support to the local Commander through engagement in ceremonial functions, advocacy, and the promotion of RCAF traditions, while contributing to the well-being of military personnel and their families.
History
Construction of RCAF Station Cold Lake began in 1952. The area was selected due to several beneficial geographical features: adequate drainage, flat terrain, and nearby gravel deposits. Cold Lake was the first flying station to be built for the RCAF following the Second World War. Read more about the history of 4 Wing/CFB Cold Lake.
Related links
Contact
4 Wing/CFB Cold Lake Headquarters
PO Box 6550 Stn Forces
Cold Lake AB T9M 2C6
Public Affairs
Email: 4WING.4ESC.COLDLAKE@forces.gc.ca
Telephone: 780-840-8000 ext. 8121
Fax: 780-840-7300
Flying a drone
Civilian drone operations within 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometers) of an aerodrome under the authority of the Department of National Defence (MND) requires pre-authorization. For more information about these zones and how to properly access them, please consult the National Research Council of Canada Drone Site Selection tool and section 3.2.35 of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft chapter of Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). Civilian drone operators with the required licence and registered drone who are seeking to fly within a Wing aerodrome must contact the Wing in advance for approval.
