Canadian NORAD Region Forward Operating Location Rankin Inlet explained
Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) Forward Operating Location (FOL) Rankin Inlet was upgraded as part of the North American Air Defence Modernization (NAADM) program authorized at the Shamrock Summit held in Quebec City on March 18, 1985. The NAADM program was authorized by the Canada-United States Memorandum of Understanding signed by Prime Minister Mulroney and President Reagan at the summit. The purpose of the upgraded facilities at Rankin Inlet Airport was to accommodate up to six fighters in hangars when needed,[1] 200 support personnel, and storage facilities. The facility was built and accepted by DND in 1994, without munitions storage facilities.[2]
FOL Rankin Inlet is located immediately southwest of the Rankin Inlet Airport. As part of the airport upgrades needed during the construction of the FOL, a layer of insulation was placed under the paved surfaces to better protect the permafrost layer beneath them.[3] Apron II / Taxiway B serves the FOL's operation.[4]
In 2005 the Government of Nunavut was reported to have been pursuing acquiring use of the support buildings at FOL Rankin Inlet for trades educational programs,[5] but in 2006 it was announced that plan had been scrapped since the school would have short notice to vacate the building in case the military needed the premises back.[6]
Notes and References
- News: Peter . Pigott . On guard for thee . 2011 . Wings . 2013-09-08 . The air force, in conjunction with NORAD, also maintains four Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) where it can pre-deploy CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft in response to, or anticipation of, unwelcome activity. The FOLs are located in Inuvik and Yellowknife, N.W.T., and in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. They provide all the necessary infrastructure and supplies to support the air force's fighter aircraft in these remote and isolated regions. . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153403/http://www.wingsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5315&Itemid=146 . 2014-07-14 . dead .
- Book: DM Jurkowski . A History of the Air Defence of Canada 1948-1997 . The NBC Group . 1997 . 0-9681973-0-2 .
- Web site: Rankin Inlet Airport Master Plan 2010 . 2013-09-08 . PDF . runway structure was substantially upgraded and altered during construction of the military FOL facilities in 1993. At that time, a layer of rigid styrofoam insulation was incorporated in the base structure to limit degradation of the permafrost layer beneath the paved surfaces. .
- Web site: Rankin Inlet Airport Master Plan 2010 . 2013-09-08 . PDF . Taxiway 'B' serves the Department of National Defence FOL accessed from the threshold of Runway 31T. This taxiway connects to an apron that surrounds a single, large hangar. ... Apron II, which is operated by the Department of National Defence as a Canadian Forces Fighter Forward Operating Location (FOL). .
- News: Darrell . Greer . Pushing for a trade . 2005-09-05 . Northern News Services . 2013-09-08 . The Government of Nunavut (GN) is being aggressive in its attempts to secure the Rankin Inlet Forward Operating Location (FOL) as the site for a new trades-training facility, said Education Minister Ed Picco. . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054457/http://www.nnsl.com/frames/newspapers/2005-09/sep7_05t.html . 2016-03-04 . dead .
- News: Sara . Minogue . Rankin to get $5.5 million trades school . February 24, 2006 . Nunatsiaq News . 2013-09-08 . A plan to transform the Canadian military's little used forward operating location (FOL) site as a trades school was scrapped when Education department officials learned they may have to vacate the site at any time after 30 days notice, if the military decided they wanted to use the building. .
