Canadian Forces Snowbirds won’t perform at CNE Air Show due to ‘operational pause’
Posted August 26, 2022 9:44 pm.
It’s one of the highlights of the CNE for many, but the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will not be performing at this year’s Canadian International Air Show (CIAS).
A CIAS announcement Friday night said the Snowbirds’ team remains on an operational pause after an accident involving one of its Tutor jets on Aug. 2 at the airport in Fort St. John, B.C.
No one was injured when the pilot made a hard landing, but it was enough for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to order an “operational pause” while it investigated.
The CIAS announced on Friday that the pause remains in place, meaning the team can’t fly at the CNE.
“We had all hoped the pause would be lifted in time for the team to participate in our 73rd CIAS, however work to identify the cause of the incident continues,” a CIAS email states.
“The safety of the team is of the utmost importance and we respect the RCAF’s ongoing airworthiness process and Flight Safety investigation.”
The show will go on without the Snowbirds.
The remaining lineup includes the United States Air Force F-35 demonstration team, Canadian Forces CF-18 demonstration team, and the Canadian Forces SkyHawks, among others.
It runs from September 3-5 between 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
With files from The Canadian Press
