The Canadian Forces have confirmed a low-flying jet that startled some Slocan Valley residents this week was one of theirs.
David Lavallee, a public affairs officer with 1 Canadian Air Division, said the aircraft seen on Wednesday afternoon was a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta. The plane left Kelowna that same day, and proceeded east to conduct low-level flying in an established training area.
“The pilot was approaching that training area when he flew through the Slocan Valley, and though it appeared to observers that the aircraft was very low, the pilot adhered to minimum altitude rules established for the area,” Lavallee said in an email.
“This kind of training flying is necessary for aircrew on all our fleets to maintain their currencies and keep their skills sharp. Although it is not used as often as other portions, the mountainous region north of Revelstoke is part of the published Cold Lake training area, with altitude rules that allow specifically for low-level flying in mountain terrain.”
Lavallee said in this instance, as the training area was on their route back to Cold Lake, the pilot was positioning himself to enter the low-level route further to the north.
Greg Shorter of New Denver was among those who saw and heard the plane.
“It was flying below the tops of the mountains,” he said. “I just happened to be taking photos of these two bears, and it scared the crap out of them.”
