CFB Trenton Canadian Forces Base Trenton ( also CFB Trenton ) , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton , Ontario . It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad . Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 8 Wing , commonly referred to as 8 Wing Trenton . The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency . The use of the airport for civilian aircraft is permitted for emergencies or MEDEVACs only . History . In 1929 , of farmland near Trenton were purchased by the federal government to establish a Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) station to be called RCAF Station Trenton . The base was officially opened in August 1931 . Lord Bessborough , the Governor General in 1931 , laid the commemorative cornerstone of the airbase , which had the motto , “ Per Ardua ad Rem , ” or “ Through Adversity to the Good ” . This motto was the long - standing unspoken motto of the airmen of CFB Trenton . Trenton was intended as a smaller supporting base to RCAF Station Borden , which was the home of Canadian military aviation and a major training base at the time . By June 1937 it had replaced Camp Borden as the primary flying training centre ; the older station was given over increasingly to technical and trades training . The location was chosen for being the midpoint between Ottawa and Toronto . It also provided the possibility of using the facility for seaplane s operating on Lake Ontario . No . 1 Fighter and No . 3 Army Cooperation Flights , flying Siskin and Tiger Moth aircraft , were the first air elements to be hosted at Trenton . Trenton became a major training centre during the Second World War under Canada ' s participation in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan . Schools included the RCAF Central Flying School , No . 1 Air Navigation School ( to 1942 ) , No . 1 Flying Instructor School , and No . 1 Composite Training School . Along with the trainees , the 6 Repair Depot was based at Trenton . Following the war , Trenton became home to transport and fighter aircraft , with transport aircraft from the base taking part in the Korean Airlift , as well as numerous other missions throughout the 1950s and 1960s . On February 2 , 1959 , RCAF Station Trenton became the destination for CF - 105 Arrow 25204 , flying from the Avro Canada manufacturing facility at Malton Airport . A Trans - Canada Air Lines Vickers Viscount had crash landed during 25204 ' s flight , temporarily closing the runways at Malton . Canada upgraded its transport and search and rescue fleets during the 1960s when the RCAF purchased the CC - 137 Husky , CC - 130 Hercules , CH - 113 Labrador and CC - 115 Buffalo aircraft . RCAF Station Trenton became the home of training facilities for these aircraft . RCAF Station Trenton was renamed Canadian Forces Base ( CFB ) Trenton after the February 1 , 1968 merger of the RCAF with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army to form the Canadian Forces . CFB Trenton has several recognized and classified Federal Heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings . Facilities . Current . The recapitalization of the northeast ramp was completed in summer 2008 , and reconstruction of the southeast ramp was completed in the summer of 2009 . Construction of a new air traffic control tower was completed in July 2010 . The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre is housed in a new building named after Air Marshal Clare Annis . Leed Gold Standard certification is underway from the Canada Green Building Council . A new Material Distribution Centre opened on November 2 , 2010 . The $ 2 . 4 - million project is an amalgamation and co - location of the Wing ' s Central Material Traffic Terminal of 2 Air Movement Squadron ( 2 Air Mov Sqn ) with the material distribution centre of 8 Wing Supply . Future . The construction of a new northwest ramp and associated taxiway infrastructure , consisting of approximately of concrete and of asphalt surface began in 2009 . This recapitalization provides more area for maneuvering , parking and loading aircraft , while providing adequate space to accommodate aircraft . A Electrical and Mechanical Engineering ( EME ) and transportation garage valued at $ 75 million is being built . The Air Mobility Training Centre project will see the construction of a facility that will house the equipment and personnel required to train operators and maintainers of the CC - 130J Super Hercules aircraft . Building construction will be completed in 2011 and operations will begin in 2012 . A contract for new training accommodations is expected to be awarded in 2010 , with construction tentatively set for completion by summer 2012 . Maintenance Hangar 1 is a two bay maintenance hangar designed for the large CC - 177 Globemaster III . The building is expected to be completed by spring 2013 . Maintenance Hangar 2 is a two bay maintenance hangar designed for CC - 130J Super Hercules aircraft . It will be a , and will include of office space and shop support areas . Construction is to be completed by February 2013 . Present operations . The RCAF operates the majority of its fixed - wing tactical airlift and all of its strategic airlift aircraft from CFB Trenton . CFB Trenton plays a key support role for the National Search and Rescue Program , being home to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton ( JRCC Trenton ) which is jointly staffed by the RCAF and Canadian Coast Guard personnel who have responsibility for coordinating aircraft and marine rescue incidents in central and Arctic Canada . The RCAF also operates the Canadian Mission Control Centre ( CMCC ) from the base , which is tasked with monitoring the Cospas - Sarsat system that detects transmissions from emergency locating beacons on aircraft or marine vessels in distress through Canada ' s search and rescue area of responsibility . The Canadian Army also operates the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre , formerly known as the Canadian Parachute Centre . 8 Wing operates several aircraft types , including CC - 130 Hercules , CC - 150 Polaris and CC - 177 Globemaster III transport aircraft , the CH - 146 Griffon search and rescue helicopters , and the CC - 144 Challenger VIP transport aircraft . The Challenger fleet , used to fly the Governor General , members of the Royal Family ( when visiting Canada ) , the Prime Minister and members of the , is based at Ottawa Macdonald - Cartier International Airport but supported from CFB Trenton . Current squadrons under 8 Wing include : Temporary storage facilities were built at the base for the CC - 177 Globemaster III . Permanent hangars will be built by 2013 . The current commander of the base is Colonel David Lowthian , MSM . CD , who assumed his post on August 2013 . The Wing Chief Warrant Officer is CWO Sandor Gyuk . From 2009 - 2010 , 8 Wing Trenton was commanded by Russell Williams , who was relieved of command following charges of murder being laid under the Criminal Code . Economic impact on Trenton community . CFB Trenton , based on statistical date from the Fiscal Year 2004 – 2005 , had an annual population impact ( Regular Force members & dependants ) of 8 , 185 . The airbase also had an estimated local spending impact ( direct and indirect ) of $ 278 , 195 , 000 for that Fiscal Year . The airbase also directly employed 3 , 163 people and indirectly employed 437 people .