Airbus CC-150 Polaris

The four Airbus aircraft that make up the fleet were originally civilian airliners purchased and operated by Wardair. First delivered in 1987 and 1988, they were transferred to Canadian Airlines when the two airlines merged in 1989. The aircraft were subsequently sold to the Canadian Armed Forces and converted for military use, entering service between December 1992 and August 1993.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Four of the five aircraft, numbered 15002 to 15005, were converted to the Combi-Freighter standard with a reinforced floor and side opening cargo door.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The fifth, 15001, was modified as a VIP transport aircraft for government executive transport.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The CC-150 replaced the Boeing CC-137 (converted Boeing 707) as a strategic transport when the final transport-configured CC-137s were retired in 1997.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

File:CC-150 Polaris tanker refueling two CF-18 Hornets.jpg (2009)]]

In 2008, two of the five CC-150s were converted to air-to-air refuelling tankers with a new military mission avionics package for the CF-18 fleet as part of the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) program. The Polaris tankers are capable of ferrying a flight of four CF-18 Hornets non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, off-loading 80,000 pounds of fuel to the receiving aircraft over a 2,500 nautical mile (4,630 km) leg. The MRTT program was initiated because of a German Air Force requirement and provided a cost-effective solution for the Canadian Forces. The converted aircraft have been designated CC-150T. The tankers have hose-drogue pods under the wings.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The RCAF uses converted C-130s, RCAF designation CC-130H(T), for tactical air-to-air refuelling but is limited when deploying CF-18s overseas, as they are better served by a strategic air-to-air refuelling platform. As a result of the CC-150's MRTT conversion, Canada regained its strategic air-to-air refuelling capability, lost when the final tanker-configured CC-137s were retired in 1997 (13703 & 13704 were modified with Beech refuelling kits in mid-1972 in support of the CF-5 tactical fighter).{{Cite web |url=http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/707lst_e.asp |title = Canada's Air Force, Aircraft, Historical Aircraft, Boeing 707 (CC-137) |publisher=Government of Canada |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080117035732/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/707lst_e.asp |archive-date=17 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}

The first converted CC-150T completed its acceptance trials in May 2008.{{Cite news |url=http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/news_e.asp?cat=114&id=6727 |title=Strategic air-to-air refuelling capability |newspaper=Air Force Articles |publisher=Government of Canada |date=22 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418222659/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?cat=114&id=6727 |archive-date=18 April 2012}}

The Polaris is classified as a strategic airlifter by the Royal Canadian Air Force. As a tanker, the CC-150 has a similar fuel capacity to the KC-135; it is more flexible because of the large cabin, offering good capacity for cargo, troop transport, VIP transport or other uses, but lacks the oversize cargo capacity and ability to operate from austere locations. The Canadian Armed Forces rely on other heavy lift cargo aircraft (such as the C-17 Globemaster) for these kinds of operations.

The five CC-150s are operated by 437 Transport Squadron at CFB Trenton, Ontario. They served in United Nations, Red Cross and NATO initiatives, including operations in Afghanistan.{{cite news |last1=Pugliese |first1=David |title=QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AIR FORCE'S CC-150 TANKERS {{!}} Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/questions-about-the-air-forces-cc-150-tankers |access-date=25 December 2019 |date=15 April 2009 |language=en}}

In 2011, two CC-150T air-to-air refuelling tankers were deployed to support Canadian CF-18 fighter jets enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya under Operation Mobile and Operation Unified Protector.[http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/feature-vedette/2011/02/updates-misesajour/03-22-2011-eng.asp "Update on CF Operations in Libya"]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Canadian Forces website, 22 March 2011

The initial purchase from Canadian Airlines in 1992 included a support contract for service of the aircraft for a fixed number of flying hours. Air Canada acquired the CC-150 service contract when it purchased Canadian Airlines in 2000, and through a series of subsequent corporate restructurings, spawned the CC-150 service contract to Air Canada Technical Services (ACTS), then Aveos Fleet Performance. Following the collapse of Aveos Fleet Performance in March 2012, the Government of Canada awarded a one-year interim contract to L3 Communications to support the fleet of CC-150 aircraft until Canada could award a longer term aircraft maintenance contract through a competitive procurement process.{{Cite news|url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsl-3--polaris-aircraft|title = L-3 MAS to maintain Canadian Polaris aircraft fleet| newspaper=Airforce Technology | date=30 May 2012 | author1=Admin }}

On July 22, 2023, the CC-150 15003 suffered severe damage to its tail in a rollaway collision with a French Air Force Airbus A400M parked nearby. In November 2023, the Royal Canadian Air Force made the decision to scrap the aircraft in Guam, where it has been parked since the accident occurred. Repair costs were estimated between $7.9 and $28.5 million.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/rcaf-plane-collision-guam-scrapped|title = Air Force plane to be completely scrapped after collision with French aircraft| newspaper=National Post | date=1 December 2023 | author1=Bryan Passifiume }}

The call sign of the VIP-configured CC-150 is known officially as CAN Force One. The decision to outfit one of the five CC-150s as a VIP transport intended for use by the Prime Minister of Canada, made while Brian Mulroney held office, was politically controversial. The $56 million in upgrades ($3 million of that went towards a private compartment with a dining room, entertainment area, fold-out beds and a shower) were criticized as a needless extravagance during a time of government budgetary challenges by then-Leader of the Opposition Jean Chrétien, who labelled the aircraft a "flying Taj Mahal". Chrétien became Prime Minister soon thereafter and tried and failed to sell the aircraft; he refused to use the CC-150 during his ensuing 11 years in office. The interior was downgraded to a smaller, less lavish VIP cabin and the aircraft offered limited communications capability.{{cite news |title=Canada looking at replacing VIP aircraft and fleet as they hit 31st birthday |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/can-force-one-replacement-1.4558838 |access-date=25 December 2019 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |publisher=The Canadian Press |date=2 March 2018 |first1=Mia |last1=Rabson}}

Subsequent refits to and from use as a troop transport resulted in much of the VIP amenities being downgraded. The CC-150 returned to use as official transport for the prime minister under Paul Martin in 2004.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/martins-first-foreign-tour-begins-on-a-sad-note/article18274741/ Martin's first foreign tour begins on a sad note]

File:Airbus CC-150 Polaris at Boryspil.jpeg

In 2011, it emerged that since early 2009 the office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper had repeatedly requested that the VIP-configured CC-150, aircraft #01, be repainted from the gun-metal military paint scheme it shared with the other CC-150s to a specialized paint scheme. The Department of National Defence, including Minister Peter MacKay, had resisted this request, noting that it was contrary to its multi-role nature and would compromise the aircraft's potential to safely transport personnel into a combat zone.{{cite news |title=PM, MacKay in 2-year tussle over Airbus paint |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/pm-mackay-in-2-year-tussle-over-airbus-paint-1.1072282 |agency=Canadian Press |date=13 February 2011}} In 2013, the VIP-configured CC-150 was repainted during scheduled heavy maintenance at a cost of $50,000. The new scheme, predominantly white with significant quantities of blue and smaller amounts of red, was criticized by opposition politicians, who alleged the repainting was intended to give prominence to the then-governing Conservative Party of Canada's traditional blue colour.[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/07/stephen_harpers_official_jet_gets_eyecatching_makeover.html Stephen Harper’s jet makeover slammed by opposition]{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canada-looking-at-replacing-fleet-of-vip-aircraft-as-it-passes-31st-birthday|title = Liberals consider replacing aging government VIP plane, RCAF transport fleet at up to $1.5B|newspaper = Nationalpost}}

In recent years, various mechanical problems have occurred. In October 2016, a flap issue forced the aircraft to return to Ottawa 30 minutes after takeoff while Trudeau was en route to Belgium to sign the Canada Europe free trade deal. In March 2018, Prime Minister Trudeau's trip to India was delayed because of a mechanical issue during a refuelling stop in Rome.

In December 2019, the VIP CC-150 suffered significant structural damage to the nose and right engine cowling. While being towed by contracted personnel at CFB Trenton, it rolled into the back wall of a hangar. The aircraft was scheduled to remain out of service until August 2020, but the grounding was extended due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Brewster |first1=Murray |title=Prime minister's aircraft grounded after hangar accident |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/prime-minister-airbus-grounded-trudeau-1.5381367 |access-date=26 December 2019 |date=2 December 2019}} It was returned to service in March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ads-b.nl/aircraft.php?id_aircraft=12759893&pagenum=18&selectmove=month&whatinfo=All|title = ADS-B Aircraft}}

In September 2023, Trudeau's return from the G20 summit in India was postponed due to "technical issues" with the aircraft.{{Cite news |title=Trudeau is stuck in India thanks to broken airplane |newspaper=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/4197172-trudeau-is-stuck-in-india-thanks-to-broken-airplane/}} Another CC-150 was sent from CFB Trenton to pick up Trudeau.{{Cite web |title=Replacement Plane Polaris India |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/replacement-plane-polaris-india-1.6962591 |website=www.cbc.ca}}

{{Main|Airbus CC-330 Husky}}

In 2021 the Government of Canada began an effort to replace all five CC-150 Polaris aircraft. The replacement tender is expected to cost US$5 billion. Early bid candidates included the Airbus A330 MRTT{{Cite web |website=FlightGlobal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/airbus-a330-mrtt-cleared-to-pursue-canadian-tanker-deal/143163.article |title = Airbus A330 MRTT cleared to pursue Canadian tanker deal |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=1 April 2021 |publisher=DVV Media International Limited |access-date=29 March 2023}} and the Boeing KC-46, but the latter has since been dropped.{{Cite magazine |magazine=Skies Magazine |last=Thatcher |first=Chris |url=https://skiesmag.com/news/airbus-boeing-qualifies-rcaf-future-tanker/?amp= |title = Airbus, and not Boeing, qualifies for RCAF future tanker |publisher=MHM Publishing Inc. |date=2 April 2021 |access-date=29 March 2023}} On 14 July 2022, Canada announced that it has finalized a contract to acquire two A330-200 aircraft as the first two aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) that will provide a strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling role—currently fulfilled by the fleet of five CC-150 Polaris aircraft—as part of theStrategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project.{{Cite magazine |url=https://skiesmag.com/news/canada-moves-forward-acquisition-first-2-airbus-a330-aircraft-rcaf-future-tanker/ |title = Canada moves forward with acquisition of first 2 Airbus A330-200s for RCAF future tanker |magazine=Skies Magazine |last=Fedy-MacDonald |first=Dayna |publisher=MHM Publishing Inc. |date=14 July 2022 |access-date=29 March 2023}}{{Cite press release |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/07/canada-moves-forward-with-the-acquisition-of-aircraft-for-the-royal-canadian-air-force.html |title = Canada moves forward with the acquisition of aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force |publisher=Government of Canada |date=14 July 2022 |access-date=29 March 2023}} The two A330 aircraft are former civilian airliners owned by International Airfinance Corporation.{{cite web |website=Defense News |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/08/10/canada-unveils-planned-deadline-to-buy-four-airbus-tanker-aircraft/ |title=Canada unveils planned deadline to buy four Airbus tanker aircraft |last=Pugliese |first=David |publisher=Sightline Media Group |date=10 August 2022 |access-date=29 March 2023}} The new fleet will include four new and five used aircraft that are being outfitted to feature the same capabilities.{{cite web|url= https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ottawa-buying-nine-airbus-planes-to-replace-polaris-fleet-including-pm-s-plane-1.6493506|title= Ottawa buying nine Airbus planes to replace Polaris fleet, including PM's plane|access-date= 25 July 2023|author= Canadian Press|author-link= Canadian Press|work= CTV News|date= 25 July 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230725200658/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ottawa-buying-nine-airbus-planes-to-replace-polaris-fleet-including-pm-s-plane-1.6493506|archive-date= 25 July 2023|url-status= live}}

;CC-150

: 1 VIP transport

: 2 strategic airlifters

;CC-150T

: 2 aerial refuelling tankers/strategic airlifters

;{{CAN}}

• Royal Canadian Air Force (4) - 2 CC-150T and 2 CC-150 Polaris {{cite book |title=The Military Balance |date=2025 |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |isbn=978-1-041-04967-8}}{{rp|32}}
• 437 Transport Squadron{{cite web | url=https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/corporate/squadrons/437-squadron.html | title=437 Transport Squadron - Royal Canadian Air Force | date=30 April 2013 }}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=CC-150 Polaris.{{cite web |last1=Government of Canada |first1=National Defence |title=CC-150 Polaris {{!}} Aircraft {{!}} Royal Canadian Air Force |url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/aircraft-current/cc-150.page |website=www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca |access-date=25 December 2019 |date=10 April 2013}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=2 (flight crew)

|capacity=194 passengers (up to) or {{convert|33000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} payload

|length m=46.66

|span m=43.9

|height m=15.8

|empty weight kg=80000

|gross weight kg=157000

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=General Electric CF6-80C2A2

|eng1 type=high bypass turbofan engines

|eng1 lbf=50000

|max speed mach=0.84

|range km=9600

|ceiling m=12500

}}

{{Portal|Aviation|Canada}}

{{aircontent

|related=

• Airbus A310
• Airbus A310 MRTT
• Military transport aircraft

|similar aircraft=

• Boeing KC-767
• McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
• Airbus A330 MRTT

|lists=

• List of active Canadian military aircraft

|see also=

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/aircraft-current/cc-150.page}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091207144933/http://www.casr.ca/bg-cc150t-polaris-mrtt.htm Canadian American Strategic Review]
• [https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/aircraft/cc-150.html Royal Canadian Air Force]

{{Airbus aircraft}}

{{Canadian Forces aircraft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cc-150 Polaris}}

Category:1990s French military transport aircraft

Category:Air refueling

Category:Airbus A310

Category:Low-wing aircraft