Articles

By Captain Nicole Meszaros

Major Dan Bouchard, a 436 (Transport) Squadron pilot soared the skies of the high arctic between June 13 and 22 with little doubt that he would arrive at all destination points safely and accurately. After all, his navigator was someone in whom he has great confidence. And he ought to, he raised her!

Maj Bouchard's only daughter, Lieutenant Genevieve Bouchard, a 436 (T) Squadron navigator, pointed him in the right direction at all times as they undertook a 10-day Foreign Service Attaché Tour together over Canada's expansive North.

"I can't believe that my daughter is going to be my navigator," said Maj Bouchard before the trip. "We've wondered if we would get a flight together and now it's happening. We are very excited about this mission."

The purpose of the important tour was to expose Foreign Service Attachés to Canada and Canadian culture. Organized by the Director of Protocol and Foreign Liaison, the tour's passenger list included 27 Attachés and spouses and stopped at nine destinations including Yellowknife, Inuvik and Resolute Bay. The mission was the first operational flight for Lt Bouchard who earned her Air Navigator Wings in October 2005 and completed training specific to the CC-130 Hercules in recent months.

"My dad swore me into the military, presented me my Commissioning Scroll and my Air Navigator Wings," said Lt Bouchard indicating that her father has been part of her Air Force career from the beginning. "Now he is Mission Commander for my first operational trip," she said and the tradition of her father's involvement in her career continues.

Lt Bouchard explained that the role of the Mission Commander is to oversee the entire mission whereas her tasks as navigator include route planning, calculating fuel requirements and other duties, sometimes passing on recommendations to the Mission Commander.

"I get to tell my Dad where to go as a nav!" said Lt Bouchard. "This is not something everyone gets to experience!"

Maj Bouchard is proud of his daughter's accomplishment and expressed it freely. "She finished first on her nav course and as a result she had the choice of picking Hercs as her choice of aircraft. I am very proud of her."

And while the two family members are obviously close, Maj Bouchard pointed out that when flying they know they have a job to do and as professionals, they will get it done. In any work setting, including while airborne, both concurred that they would refer to each other by either rank or position.

Lorna Bouchard, wife and mother of the pilot and navigator respectively, is pleased her daughter is undertaking her first operational mission with her father. "I don't think she could be in better hands. It's wonderful they can experience this together," said Mrs. Bouchard. "I'm really glad that Genevieve has found a career that fits her. She's always had lots of energy and being a nav really suits her."

The proud mother explained that her daughter's affinity for the military may have been inherited in that her maternal great-grandfather was a member of the Royal Navy, her maternal grandfather was a member of the Royal Air Force, and her father of course is a member of the Canadian Forces. Mrs. Bouchard herself obtained a pilot's license in 1978 and although it has lapsed she doesn't rule out flying again in the future.

In the fall the Bouchard parents will see their daughter realize yet another personal milestone as she marries an Air Navigator from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Lt Jean-Paul Landry.

As an experienced officer and with fatherly sentiments, Maj Bouchard expressed good wishes toward his daughter. "I've been a member of the Air Force for almost 35 years and it has been good to me. I hope that it will be as good to her as it has been to me."

Capt Meszaros is the 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer.