Aerodromes in Canada were classified according to type 1 or type 2 for Flying Control purposes by the end of World War II.
Type 1 Stations Aids to Navigation:
HF/DF for homing;
MF/DF for fixing and homing;
VHF radios for fighter A/C;
Single Beam Approach system (S.B.A.) or;
Beam Approach Beacon System (B.A.B.S.); and
Radio Change.
Type 2 Stations Aids to Navigation:
Either HF/DF or MF/DF.
VHF radios; and
Radio Range or Single Beam Approach System.
The main function of the Type 1 stations was to provide:
Homing assistance to any aircraft on request.
Constant watch on wether and aircraft E.T.A.'s and any other safety factor affecting aircraft in flight.
Complete weather information for transient flights.
Immediate night-landing facilities.
Any function assigned to a Type 2 station toType 2 stations were designed to provide local control for aircraft but aircraft would use adjoining Type 1 station facilities for transient flights.
Radio supervision of aerodrome traffic.
Radio control of instrument approaches and letdowns.
Air Rescue services, including stand-by aircraft when so assigned.
Pre-flight briefing and clearance, with liaison with Type 1 stations for transient long-distance flights.
Complete local weather information.
No. 1 Group - St. Johns Nfld, Group Area, Center-FCO 1, + Ops Staff
No. 3 Group - Ha;ifax, NS, Group Area, Centre-FCO 1, + Ops Staff
Type 1 Stations - Gander, Torbay, Goose Bay, Dartmouth, Sydney, Yarmouth, Penfield Rdge, Chatham, Derbert, Greenwood, Charlottown, Bagotville, Summerside, Mont Joli
Type 2 Stations - Botwood & Stations to be established in Greenland, N Sydney, Shelburne, Gaspe, Sagenay, Seven Islands
No. 2 Group - Victoria, Group Centre, FCO-1 + Ops Staff
No. 4 Group - Prince Rupert, Group Centre, FCO-1 + Ops Staff
Route Centre - Prince George
Type 1 Stations - Patricia Bay, Sea Island, Boundary Bay, Tofino, Nanaimo, Comox, Port Hardy, Terrace, Sand Spit, Annette Island.
Type 2 Stations - Coal Harbour, Uclulet, Abbotsford, Woodcock, Kamloops, Prince Rupert, Bella Bella, Alliford Bay, Dog Creek, Smithers, Grande Prairie, Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson.
All above stations were manned on 7/24 hour basis.
WEATHER INFORMATION
Although the RCAF had good weather briefing facilities and reasonably good meteorologists, sometimes the information seemed to be missed by the aircrew and it became apparent in 1943 that there was a great deal of interpretation put on information of ceiling and visibility. After a couple of aircraft were lost and nearly crashed due to low fuel, the SASO of Western Air Command decided that the Aircrew and Flying Control personnel needed some direction to ensure planes would not depart in marginal weather. Accordingly, on 24 May 1943, the colour method classifying weather serviceability by means of one of three colours i.e. Red, yellow or Green, was initiated to ensure that people understood exactly when they could allow flights or be ready for possible diversion. AFHQ accepted the procedure and it became effective throughout the RCAF Home Command that same month.
The system was as follows:
GREEN: - Denoted operational flying with a stable pattern in place.
YELLOW: - Denoted operational flying weather with an expected deterioration in weather conditions. In this case, a spot weather report had to be obtained before dispatching aircraft to other destinations than the local flying area.
RED: - Denoted that the weather at a station was below limits and Group placed that station on a non-operational basis. It did not take long before all personnel knew the weather limits for the colours:
GREEN: - Ceiling 1000 feet, visibility 5 miles or ceiling 200 feet, visibility 10 miles.
YELLOW: - Ceiling 500 feet or more, visibility 2 miles or more.
RED: - Weather below YELLOW classification- station non-operational.
Updated: November 24, 2004