By Officer Cadet Jeff Noel
15 WING-McEWEN AIRFIELD MOOSE JAW, SK – The Commander of 4 Wing Cold Lake Colonel G.C.P. Matte told Canada’s newest graduates of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program in Moose Jaw that their training now and in the future would benefit both them and the Air Force greatly.
“Two of you have been selected to remain here at NFTC Moose Jaw as instructor pilots and two will continue their training at Cold Lake, first on the CT-155 Hawk then on the CF-18 Hornet,” he said. “In each case, the valuable service you will provide to the Air Force in the next few years cannot be overstated.”
As 15 Wing-McEwen Airfields Commanding Officer Colonel Alain Boyer and the Acting Commandant of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School Major Aichim Hofmann joined family members and other visitors at the wings presentation ceremony, Colonel Matte told the graduates of Course 0502 to be proud of what they have achieved.
“To all of the graduates I would just like to say that I envy each and everyone of you," he said. " Although the Air Force has been very good to me, and I have flown more than my share of flying hours, I would trade places with any one of you in a heartbeat to start it all over again.”
Friday’s ceremony was Colonel Matte’s first visit to 15 Wing-McEwen Airfield as a Reviewing Officer. The last time he was in Moose Jaw was as a student pilot, graduating with his military pilot’s wings in 1986.
