While preparing to perform at an airshow in Atlanta, Georgia earlier in October, Snowbird pilot Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier was forced to eject from his plane, unharmed, leaving it to crash pilotless into an unpopulated area.

Since 1971, the Snowbirds have flown CT-114 Tutor aircrafts which were built in 1962. They were the primary pilot training aircraft for the Snowbirds until 2000, and after the crash in Georgia, questions have been raised about whether or not they should continue to fly them.  

David Lavallee is a Public Affairs Officer with the RCAF at 17 Wing in Winnipeg. He says while the pilots returned home shortly after the crash, the Snowbird's Tutor planes have remained in an "operational pause" in Georgia until an investigation into the crash can be completed. 

"Until the investigation is complete and we know what caused this crash and a decision can be made when and under what conditions the fleet can return to flying operations. Does this latest crash raise any concerns? We don't know yet."  

Lavallee said that while the Snowbirds currently have 19 Tutors available, there are also five at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment in Cold Lake.

Despite the age of the aircrafts, Lavallee said they undergo constant maintenance and checks before and after every flight. 

"The Tutor is an extremely well-maintained aircraft. I believe that they were acquired in 1962 so that would make them almost 60 years old. I think the fact that we are still able to fly them is a testament to the technical skills and professionalism of our technicians. They undergo constant maintenance, constant checks, before and after every flight. There's a robust program in place to look after these airplanes." 

With the investigation still ongoing, it's still far too early to tell whether or not the Tutor planes will need to be retired just yet. Lavallee said that as the plan sits now, the Snowbird Royal Canadian Airforce pilots will continue to use the Tutor planes as their demonstration aircraft until 2030.