Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training
The Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT) is a key training institution within the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The school has a vital role in preparing aircrew and select Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel to meet the physiological and environmental challenges of military aviation through comprehensive survival and aeromedical instruction.
CFSSAT has established itself as a centre of excellence for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape and Aeromedical Training. Its curriculum includes instruction in topics such as hypoxia recognition, spatial disorientation, night vision operations, and all weather (including Arctic) survival skills.
Among its flagship offerings is the Arctic Aircrew Survival Course, conducted in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. This internationally recognized program delivers realistic, hands-on training in one of the world’s harshest environments. Trainees learn to manage critical survival priorities, construct emergency shelters, and regulate core body temperature in sub-zero conditions. Canada remains the only NATO country to offer a dedicated Arctic survival course, positioning CFSSAT as a global leader in extreme cold-weather training.
In addition to its survival training programs, CFSSAT also delivers high-level aeromedical education in the use of life support systems and other critical in-flight safety protocols. The school is named in honour of Dr. Wilbur Rounding Franks, a Canadian scientist whose invention of the anti-gravity suit (G-suit) significantly improved pilot safety and endurance during high-speed flight.
CFSSAT contributes directly to the RCAF’s operational effectiveness by equipping personnel with the knowledge, skills, and resilience required to operate in challenging conditions around the globe.
