Air Services

Quick Facts

The RCMP is one of the largest fleet operators in Canada.

The RCMP maintains 19 Air Sections and currently employs 150 people throughout the country, including 78 pilots and 49 aircraft maintenance engineers & avionics technicians.

The Air Services Fleet includes fixed and rotary wing aircraft, all of which have been selected to meet specific needs of our organization:

• 3 Cessna Caravans
• 2 De Havilland Twin Otters
• 2 Eurocopter EC 120Bs
• 8 Eurocopter AS 350B3s
• 15 Pilatus PC-12s
• 1 Piaggo Avanti P180
• 10 Cessna

Mission Statement

The Air Services Branch will provide a safe, effective and cost efficientair service to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in support of its role to maintain peace and security for our nation by:

• Applying the highest principles of Aviation Safety;
• Providing a professional and well trained group of pilots and technicians;
• Ensuring cost effective use of available resources.

Overview

The first priority of Air Services is to provide air support and assistance to operational personnel. This includes northern and regional patrols; transporting personnel, prisoners and supplies; and carrying out searches.

An Officer oversees the entire Air Services operation from HQ Ottawa. The corporate structure of Air Services includes a team of Chief Fixed and Rotary Wing Pilots, a Training Officer, Safety Officer and Chief Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

To ensure it has an efficient, cost effective and safe fleet of aircraft to support police operations, RCMP Air Services has adopted a fleet modernization or evergreen plan. Cost, opportunity, service records, age and technology updates are key factors in the evergreen plan. Typically, each aircraft is replaced after seven years of use or approximately 7,000 flight hours.

History

RCMP Air Services got its start in April 1937, with four twin-engine bi-planes and eight regular member pilots. The planes, de Havilland Dragonflies with blue fuselages and yellow wings, were equipped with two-way radios and had a maximum range of more than 950 kilometres.

The new air section was temporarily housed in Downsview, Ontario. In July 1937, the Aviation Section moved to Moncton, New Brunswick. In 1939, the Dragonflies and their pilots were transferred to the RCAF for the duration of World War II, which left the Force with only one aircraft, a Norseman.

In 1946, more aircraft were acquired by the RCMP including an ex-RCAF Grumman Goose. The first helicopter, a Bell 212, was added to the fleet in 1971.

Today, RCMP Air Services has over 30 operational aircraft, and employs pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, flight coordinators as well as purchasers, quality assurance and support personnel.

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Career Opportunities

The flexibility in using a coordinated pool group of professional and well-trained pilots and technicians minimizes the effects of vacancies and produces an economic air support operation.

For fixed wing pilots - a commercial pilots licence with a valid instrument rating and a minimum of 3,000 hours flight experience including turbine and pressurized experience is required.

For rotary wing pilots - a commercial pilots licence and a minimum of 3,000 hours flight experience, preferably including time on turbine such as the AS 350B3 helicopters is required.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Avionics Engineers must meet the technical qualifications of the position.

For more information, please visit Careers.

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