Editor’s Message (RCAF Journal - FALL 2015 - Volume 4, Issue 4)

Here we are with the last issue of 2015, and what a year it has been! Canada has a new prime minister, the Canadian Armed Forces has a new chief of the defence staff and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has a new commander—definitely a year full of change. Yet, it sometimes seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same; the world is still a challenging place. The nation still needs to project air power in support of defence and foreign policies, and Canadians still need professional airpower practitioners to ensure the RCAF’s efficiency and effectiveness. So for most of us, it will be business as usual.

Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that I employed both “air power” and “airpower” in my opening paragraph. This is not a typo. In the coming months, you will see these two terms used in varied forums in order to spark discussion on the definition of, requirement for and plan to achieve professional mastery of our chosen profession. So stay tuned, put your thinking caps on, and jump in on the discussion. And remember, as difficult as it might be to deliberate on the nuances between air power and airpower, your troubles are “minor” when compared to those who have to ensure a coherent translation of the terms in both official languages.

As well, 2016 will see Canada and the RCAF commemorate the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), arguably this nation’s, at least from an air-power point of view, greatest contribution to victory in the Second World War. Material on the training scheme will be available via RCAF social media and in the various air museums. A commemorative issue of the Journal on the BCATP is planned for the summer months.

And for this issue … enjoy the read.

Sic Itur Ad Astra

Major William March, CD, MA
Senior Editor

BCATP―British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
RCAF―Royal Canadian Air Force