Canada’s Snowbirds Alumni Association launched the “No Pause — Keep the Snowbirds Flying” campaign on May 29, pushing back against the government’s plan to fully ground the iconic CT-114 Tutor fleet after the 2026 season. The campaign argues for maintaining a reduced formation through 2030, preserving operational expertise and formation continuity during the aircraft transition period to the new CT-157 Siskin II.
The announcement came just 10 days after Defence Minister Bill Blair and RCAF Commander LGen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet confirmed that 431 Air Demonstration Squadron will fly its final show on October 11, 2026, then stand down for several years until replacement turboprop trainers arrive in the early 2030s. That multi-year pause has triggered significant concern among retired pilots and former squadron leaders who see operational continuity slipping away.
The Alumni Case for Continuous Operations
Retired LCol Darryl Shyiak chairs the Snowbirds Alumni Association. He commanded 431 Squadron and framed the campaign as a call for practical solutions: “The RAF Red Arrows have demonstrated that it is possible to adapt during periods of transition without grounding an iconic national team entirely. The ‘No Pause—Keep the Snowbirds Flying’ campaign is about encouraging Canadian decision-makers to explore practical transitional solutions that preserve the operational knowledge, public connection, and inspirational value the Snowbirds provide to Canadians.”
The alumni proposal is straightforward: reduce the formation from nine aircraft to six or seven. This skeleton crew of pilots and maintainers could sustain aerobatic operations through approximately 2030. Retired LCol Dan Dempsey, another former CO of 431 Squadron, warned of the risks. “When you’re starting from scratch, I don’t know how the RCAF is going to be able to easily transition onto new aircraft. After four or five years, you’re literally going to be starting from scratch with nobody that’s currently flying aerobatics in that aircraft.”
Dempsey emphasized the human element. Personnel challenges and specialized skill preservation justify keeping a smaller team airborne. “We would have liked to see understanding that there are personnel challenges and so on and so forth, for the team to be reduced slightly, perhaps down to seven aircraft, even six, to keep that core expertise going for the next few years on the Tutor.”
Official Position Stands Firm
The Defence Department has shown no flexibility. Minister Blair cited the Swiss-made CT-157 Siskin II—a Pilatus PC-21 variant—as essential to “accelerate procurement, create a larger pool of pilots to be able to fly in the Snowbirds and ensure that we do not end up operating an orphaned fleet of aircraft.” Negotiations with the manufacturer remain underway.
LCol Guillaume Paquet commands 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. He acknowledged the weight of retirement: “After more than 65 years of service to the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Tutor has earned its well-deserved rest. Time has made the aircraft increasingly challenging to maintain.”
2026 — The Final Full Season
The Snowbirds’ farewell tour runs from May 24 through October 11, 2026. They’ve confirmed 25 appearances across six Canadian provinces and three U.S. states—including a Fourth of July New York City flyover and a Canada Day pass over Parliament Hill. The team will fly nine CT-114 Tutors in their iconic formations: the Big Diamond, Concorde, Double Take, and the Burst. It’s their final mark on Canadian aviation culture.
The alumni association plans to engage elected officials, veterans, and community leaders. Industry partners including L3 Harris, IMP Aerospace, and Magellan Aerospace—companies that have sustained Tutor operations for decades—are expected to play roles in the campaign.
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