PETAWAWA—“It’s been great seeing other countries and our allies, and you always know that you are just part of something bigger than yourself,” stated Major Tim Armstrong, who has been in the Royal Canadian Air Force since December 2013.
An Air Combat Systems Officer (ACSO), he spent four-and-a-half years from 2018-2022 flying on the CP 140 Aurora Maritime Patrol aircraft at 407 Squadron, based in Comox, British Columbia. “They used to call us air navigators until GPS took over, and then we became missions and weapons specialists.”
Prior to becoming an ACSO, he had flown for four-and-a-half years from 2018-2022 on the Aurora based out of Comox, British Columbia. His flight training, from 2014-2017, took him to Portage La Prairie, Moose Jaw and Winnipeg.
As an ACSO, Major Armstrong plans, coordinates and directs the missions of aircraft and crew. An ACSO manages the operation of precision tactical navigation systems, sophisticated sensors, communications systems, electronic warfare equipment and weapon delivery systems. ACSO’s often direct and coordinate the tactical activities of other units. They led a variety of missions, including search and rescue, anti-submarine operations, maritime surface surveillance and targeting, sovereignty and fisheries patrols, counter-narcotics operations, air-to-air refueling, humanitarian relief, combined operations with foreign militaries, electronic warfare training and support, unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
“Essentially I act like a quarterback in the back of the aircraft, with a 10-15 person crew, and come up with mission plans and tell the crew what we are looking for, and how we’re going to find it,” said Mr. Armstrong.
“I have served two rotations in Japan, in 2019 and 2022, in support of Operation Neon, enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea, and part of a NATO coalition task group around the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean.”
“During the rotations in Japan there were a couple of tense moments,” said Major Armstrong. “I was deployed to Japan in 2019 and 2022, to enforce US sanctions against North Korea, which is not permitted to import most petroleum products or luxury goods. Chinese tankers will meet North Korean ships in international waters to transfer cargo and they do not take kindly to us being there.”
“They will have fighter jets follow our planes throughout an eight-hour mission, with their fighter jet on the wing of our plane,” said Major Armstrong. “And they can be pretty aggressive. No, they would not shoot at us, but they would launch flares at our aircraft and scream at us on the radio.”
“We would fly between 300-500 feet off the water, and the biggest potential for conflict is if someone were to make a mistake,” said Major Armstrong. “We are too busy to be nervous. But yes, they were aggressive.”
Major Armstrong’s deployment to Japan would be his last with 407 squadron. “Then part way through 2022 I was posted to Petawawa’s 2 Brigade Tactical Air Control Party. We are in charge of coordination of aircraft in support of the army, air traffic control on the ground.”
“I will be going to Latvia in early December for six months as an Air Force liaison officer as part of the Canadian multi-national brigade, our response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” said Major Armstrong.
As for where his interest in flying in the air force came up, Major Armstrong said, “I always had an interest in high school and after finishing at the University of Guelph I was working construction at a lot of fly-in camps. It was there that I got to meet and talk to pilots and saw how much they enjoyed flying. I though aviation might be for me.”
Major Armstrong, who is 36, said, “I hope and expect to back to flying on the Aurora in Comox before it is replaced in the next few years. He is the son of Gerry and Anna Armstrong who live in Gordon/Barrie Island.
