The Canadian Forces planes are on the ground and flight training has taken a pause at 15 Wing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some members even sent back to their famlies for the pause.

15 Wing public affairs office Lt. Camille MacKenzie Dolphin said in an email that “ In compliance with recent direction from the Chief of Defence Staff, all training at 15 wing has been paused, this includes ground school, simulators and flying. The students at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School and 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (located in Southport, MB) are currently practising physical distancing to the maximum extent possible while they conduct on-line review of previous learning in preparation for a return to training order." 

She said “the students at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School here at the base and 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (located in Southport, MB) are currently practising physical distancing to the maximum extent possible while they conduct on-line review of previous learning in preparation for a return to training order.

“While we remain flexible on how long this pause will last, we are currently focusing our efforts on the critical activities necessary to ensure we are protecting our most important asset – our people," said MacKenzie Dolphin.

She said the Wing has also reduced regular services or limited hours of operation to only those essential for support to the troops.

"With a goal of reducing the potential spread of the virus by reducing the number of personnel living in close quarters, some of the students living on base are dispersing to their next of kin home residence during the training pause," she said.