Organizations

The organizational focus of Canada's air force is Air Command. Formed in September, 1975, it was a recognizable successor to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) which, along with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army, ceased to exist as a separate service on February 1st, l968 under the provisions of Canadian Forces unification.

Over the years, the structure of Air Command has evolved with the latest, and most significant, change in l997. In that year, Air Command's four operational groups: Fighter Group; Air Transport Group; Maritime Air Group and 10 Tactical Air Group were combined into one formation called 1 Canadian Air Division (1 Cdn Air Div). At the same time, Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg was disbanded and responsibility for the strategic direction of the air force was assigned to the newly resurrected Chief of the Air Staff at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

The Chief of the Air Staff acts as both an advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on air force issues as well as Commander of Air Command. The operational and tactical control of the air force rests with the Commander of 1 Cdn Air Div, headquartered in Winnipeg. Tactical control is vested in the 13 Wings, equivalent elements and units that comprise 1 Cdn Air Div. Canadian NORAD Region HQ (CANR) is integrated into the headquarters in Winnipeg. The Commander of 1 Cdn Air Div also commands CANR.